Dana White: UFC 181's Anthony Pettis is 'pound-for-pound best fighter in the world'

UFC President Dana White has appointed a new fighter atop his personal pound-for-pound list.

It’s not Anderson Silva. It’s not Jon Jones. It’s not Jose Aldo, or even Ronda Rousey. According to White, the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, in his opinion, is UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

“Honestly, I think Pettis is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, if the kid can stay healthy,” White said on “The Jim Rome Show” on CBS Sports Radio. “This kid is able to do things to people that other people can’t do. The famous run-off-the-cage kick, he bounces off the cage and hits people with knees.

“The thing is with him, he’s so powerful with his kicks, that once he kicks you he hurts you immediately. Human beings can’t take the kicks to the body that this kid throws.”

Over the past year, White has frequently changed his answer of who is the best fighter in the world, irrespective of weight class.

He was long on the bandwagon of former UFC middleweight champion Silva, but when “The Spider” dropped his throne to Chris Weidman in 2013, White adjusted his stance to former bantamweight titleholder Renan Barao.

When Barao lost his title to T.J. Dillashaw earlier this year, White then switched stances between 145-pound champion Jose Aldo and 205-pound king Jones.

It seems White now believes Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who is set to put his title on the line against Gilbert Melendez (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Saturday night at UFC 181, is the man with no equal.

Melendez, of course, will have the opportunity to change White’s opinion when he goes for the belt in the pay-per-view co-main event at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.

If not for inactivity, Pettis would likely be much higher on many pound-for-pound lists outside of White’s. He’s currently No. 8 on the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie pound-for-pound rankings, and a victory over Melendez would put him in good position to move up.

Pettis has not fought since capturing the lightweight title from Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in August 2013. He’s spent more than a year recovering from injury, but if he can stay healthy, White said he has the complete package he’s looking for in a top fighter.

“I believe that kid is the pound-for-pound best,” White said. “He’s an incredible athlete and has this style that’s very hard to defend against. That’s why I’m so excited.

For more on UFC 181, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.