Does all this mean that Pettis will lose at UFC 181? Of course not; he’s proven to be one of the most dynamic and dangerous fighters in the world when healthy.
If he knocks out Melendez tomorrow night like he’s been predicting all along, he’ll earn his spot among the pound-for-pound best, and he’ll fully deserve it.
But there are still questions about his injury status, and those questions won’t go away until “Showtime” can defend his belt three times in a year (or so). Even if he gets by Melendez, he’ll likely have to deal with an even better wrestler at some point in No. 2-ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Yet that bout won’t have the buzz and pressure of his blockbuster return bout with Melendez, so his performance tomorrow night will absolutely shape the trajectory of Pettis’ potential path into superstardom.
Do you think that Pettis will make easy work of Melendez, or will the fight give him much more adversity than he has planned?
