Early Tuesday morning it was revealed that UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos had withdrawn from his UFC 196 lightweight title fight with featherweight champion Conor McGregor on March 5th.
Immediately there was speculation as to who would step in on short notice to fight McGregor and save the main event. While Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, fresh off his win on Saturday, offered to step in to fight McGregor, there is now another option.
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis has offered to step in and fight McGregor according to his coach Duke Roufus.
Pettis is coming off a decision loss to Eddie Alvarez back in early January. The loss made it 2 straight for Pettis who also lost to Rafael dos Anjos back in March at UFC 185.
@Showtimepettis said put me in coach @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— Coach Duke Roufus (@dukeroufus) February 23, 2016
I'm down to throw down!!! @dukeroufus @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) February 23, 2016