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MMA

07th Sep 2016

Former UFC champion Anthony Pettis’ weight-cut for featherweight debut didn’t go so smoothly

Next time will be different

Ben Kiely

After suffering three straight losses at lightweight, Anthony Pettis’ got off to a winning start at featherweight in August.

The former lightweight king made his divisional debut against Charles Oliveira, submitting the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt via guillotine choke in Vancouver.

Pettis’ performance solidified his position as a real contender at 145 lb and after the fight he called out streaking Max Holloway as an opponent he feels could secure him a quicker route to that coveted title shot against either Conor McGregor or Jose Aldo.

Although ‘Showtime’ impressed against the Brazilian, he revealed on Tuesday’s edition of the MMA Hour that his cut down to the 145 for the first time didn’t go as well as expected. Pettis made weight and overall he was content with the cut, but he had a brief scare the day of the weigh-ins.

“I think it went good. I had a nutritionist in my corner. He gave me my diet, he gave me my plan. We knew it was going to be hard going into it. 155 is a weight-cut for me, but it’s not really hard. 146 is what I weighed in at, that was a process.”

“That was the issue, the last two pounds. Because of the new weigh-in system we cut Thursday night. I got down to 147.5 and I woke up at 148 on my scale. So I was a little discouraged, I didn’t sleep much and then I had to cut two pounds. It took a little longer than expected.”

However, Pettis believes he’s learned from the experience and is hopeful that making weight for his trip to the Octagon will go a little smoother.

“I think with some adjustments to my diet and now knowing about the weigh-in process, next fight will be a lot better.”

The GAA Hour Hurling Show relives Tipperary’s sensational All-Ireland victory with Paidí Maher. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.