Cerrone wants Pettis, Pettis’ camp accepts
by Steven Marrocco | source: mmajunkie.com
“I’ve been trying to fight Anthony for a while now, and every time I suggest it, his manager comes back and says, ‘Well, maybe Cowboy could fight somebody else right now,’ and it’s just this excuse to not fight,” Cerrone told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Cerrone vs. Guillard serves as the co-main event of UFC 150, which takes place Aug. 11 at Denver’s Pepsi Center. The main card airs live on pay-per-view with prelims on FX and Facebook.
Pettis’ manager, Mike Roberts, confirmed that Pettis did indeed turn down the fight, but only because a recent shoulder surgery precluded him from competing at UFC 150. The fighter originally was told he couldn’t get in the cage until October, but that timeframe recently was pushed to November.
“I’ve never suggested ‘Cowboy’ fight anybody,” Roberts on Friday said. “He’s definitely not running from ‘Cowboy.’ Anthony is running for whoever has got the belt, and unfortunately for ‘Cowboy,’ it’s never been him.
“But having said that, if ‘Cowboy’ wins his fight, and (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva tells us beating him is going to get us a title shot, Anthony would gladly accept that fight.”