Anthony Pettis has yet to defend his UFC lightweight championship, but that hasn't stopped other fighters from calling him out. Dagestani fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov recently said he should be the next contender to face "Showtime."
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Pettis is scheduled to face Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 on Dec. 6. After winning the title in August 2013, Pettis suffered a knee injury that forced him out of action. He and Melendez then signed on to coach the current season on "The Ultimate Fighter," which further postponed their bout.
The 155-pound division is currently stacked with contenders. Donald Cerrone, who is on a four-fight win streak, will face newly-signed former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 178 on Sept. 27. Rafael dos Anjos defeated former UFC champion Benson Henderson in August and is 7-1 since 2012. But that one loss is to Nurmagomedov, and that's why "The Eagle" believes he should be next in line for a title shot.
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"I think I am the No. 1 contender, after Gilbert Melendez," Nurmagomedov told MMAFighting.com. "I know Melendez is a very good guy, he was the Strikeforce champion, the UFC gave him a shot. After he beat Diego Sanchez, and Diego Sanchez is not top 15...I think it's no good, I think I'm the No. 1 contender. I am undefeated, 6-0 [in the UFC], 22-0 [overall]. I want after the next fight to have a title shot."
Nurmagomedov is currently recovering from ACL surgery after injuring his knee in training and he said his recovery is going well. He also accused Pettis of not wanting to fight him, as Pettis has previously called out other fighters.
"I think he [doesn't] want this fight," he said of Pettis. "I am no good for his style. My pressure, my wrestling, my top control, it's no good for him. He said he wants to fight Nate Diaz. Nate Diaz lose many times in the UFC, and I am undefeated. I am the next contender. But he's not saying 'Khabib is good, Khabib is undefeated, Khabib is 6-0,' he's not saying nothing. I think he [doesn't] want this fight."
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