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Saturday, Jul 13, 2013

UFC 164: TJ Grant Out, Anthony Pettis Fighting Benson Henderson

Anthony Pettis (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Anthony Pettis campaigned to replace TJ Grant at UFC 164, and now the former WEC champ will rematch Benson Henderson after all, but not because the promotion decided to bump Grant. The rising lightweight contender has been forced to withdraw from the August 31st bout, due to a concussion he incurred while training, and now Pettis will face the lightweight champion instead.

The UFC made the announcement late Friday and Grant took to Twitter to confirm the news.

Sorry all you conspiracy theorists. @danawhite / @ufc did not and could not pay me any amount of money to step aside.

Thanks everyone for your concerns. I am healing from a concussion I suffered in BJJ of all things. I hope to be back training very soon

Pettis was scheduled to fight featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 163 on August 3rd, but had to drop out due to a knee injury. Since the injury was not severe, Pettis relayed he hoped to fight Henderson at UFC 164, which will go down in the feared striker’s hometown of Milwaukee. It was reported that the knee of Pettis would not be ready regardless, but apparently, “Showtime” has recovered.

Pettis (16-2) hasn’t fought since January when he stopped Donald Cerrone in the first round. The 26 year-old handed Henderson (19-2) a unanimous decision defeat at WEC 53 in December, 2010; however, “Smooth” went on to win 7 straight fights in the UFC including the lightweight championship.

 

 

 

posted by FCF Staff @ 11:09 am
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