Anthony Pettis (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Anthony Pettis dropped a clear cut, decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos in his last outing, but he says he’ll be ready for Eddie Alvarez, if the latter tries to duplicate the strategy of the reigning lightweight champ.

Pettis will face Alvarez in the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 81 card, which will take place in Boston. It will mark the first time Pettis has fought since last March, when he lost the lightweight title to dos Anjos.

Recently the vaunted striker spoke to UFC.com about tonight’s match-up, and here is some of what he had to say:

“Alvarez, I feel that his game plan is going to be very similar to RDA,” Pettis said. “If someone watches that last fight (they’re going to say) ‘Let’s pressure him and put him up against the cage.’ There were holes that I had to fix in my game: stop being on the cage, use my footwork and ring control, and making it my fight.”

“I’ve just really focused on my skills and getting better for this fight,” he added. “When I show up 100 percent I don’t think nobody in the world can beat me.”

Pettis (18-3) had won five straight fights prior to facing RDA, and had defended the belt by submitting Gilbert Melendez, in his bout prior.

Alvarez (26-4), is coming off a split decision win over the aforementioned Melendez, after he lost by UD to Donald Cerrone in 2014.