Pettis Injured; Johnson-Benavidez Flyweight Title Bout Now Headlines UFC on Fox 9
Anthony Pettis will have to wait for his first UFC title
defense. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
The UFC lightweight title bout between Anthony Pettis and Josh Thomson that was scheduled to take place at UFC on Fox 9 has been postponed.
Fox Sports Live on Sunday night reported that an injury forced Pettis out of his first 155-pound title defense. As a result, a flyweight title bout between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez -- originally slated to top “The Ultimate Fighter 18” finale -- will headline the Dec. 14 card. Meanwhile, the “TUF 18” finale on Nov. 30 will be headlined by a three-round lightweight scrap between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz.
UFC on Fox 9 takes place at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif., and also includes a bantamweight showdown between Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald as well as a welterweight clash pitting Carlos Condit against Matt Brown. The evening’s main card will be broadcast on the Fox network, while preliminary bouts air on Fox Sports 1 and online.
Pettis captured the 155-pound strap on Aug. 31, submitting Benson Henderson with an armbar 4:31 into the opening round at UFC 164. The final World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight ruler is 4-1 in the Octagon, with his only defeat coming against Clay Guida in his promotional debut.
Johnson and Benavidez squared off for the UFC’s inaugural flyweight title at UFC 152, with “Mighty Mouse” capturing a split decision. Johnson has defending the belt twice in 2013, besting John Dodson in January and John Moraga in August. Benavidez claimed victories over Ian McCall, Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier da Silva this year to regain the No. 1 contender’s spot.
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