Former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis is back in action at UFC Fight Night Nashville, facing Stephen Thompson in a welterweight division encounter.
The former champ trains with Ben Askren at Roufusport, but don’t expect to see the two clash anytime soon.
“I would never fight Ben Askren, I’d save myself the embarrassment,” Pettis said at the UFC Fight Night Nashville media day (via Fernanda Prates & Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie). “That dude is a (expletive) monster.”
Pettis’ sentiments also echo that of former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley, who has also stated that he would never fight Askren either.
Another huge factor that would keep Pettis from fighting Askren is that the former lightweight champion knows how much of a monster Askren can be.
“(He’s) the type of guy that, you can never count him out,” Pettis said. “I spinning- back kicked him one time, right in the chin, I could tell he was hurt, he double legs me, gets on top, and just starts grinding me out. He’s one of them tough, deep-down guys. He’s really good.”
UFC Fight Night Nashville takes place tonight from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with Stephen Thompson and Anthony Pettis headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on ESPN+.
