T.J. Grant to get next title shot, but Anthony Pettis' knee still question mark

It appears that superfights will have to wait for newly minted UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who today underwent an MRI to assess a knee injury he suffered before taking the title from Benson Henderson.

Citing UFC President Dana White, Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole reported on Twitter that Pettis’ next fight is No. 1 lightweight contender T.J. Grant (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) – not featherweight champ Jose Aldo (23-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who the new champ called out following his win at this past Saturday’s UFC 164.

Results of Pettis’ MRI are not yet available, but should determine a timeframe for his fight with Grant. Reps for Pettis could not be reached for comment.

Henderson (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) submitted to Pettis via armbar in the first round of their headliner at the Aug. 31 pay-per-view event, which took place at Milwaukee’s Bradley Center. Afterward, the new champ said he popped his left knee early in the fight and felt it lock up when the two hit the cage.

“Henderson threw a kick and I went to check with my left leg, and he hit right in the crook of the knee, so I felt it go back and forth,” Pettis said.

“So I don’t know what happened. I stepped on it, and it was hurting a little bit, so when he had me on the cage, it was starting to lock up a bit. I’m not sure what happened. We’ll find out pretty soon.”

Pettis cited Aldo’s trainer, Andre Pederneiras, as a motivator for asking the UFC for another chance to fight the featherweight champ. The two were scheduled to meet this past month at UFC 163 when an injury to Pettis’ right knee forced him to withdraw. The injury wasn’t severe enough, however, to keep him from fighting Henderson.

“His coach said I faked an injury,” Pettis said. “I would never fake an injury. I’m not afraid to fight anybody, and that’s what that was all about. If he wants to fight me, let’s make it happen. I’m ready.”

In a subsequent interview with Brazilian outlet Combate, Aldo shot back in his native Portuguese, “If a heavyweight wanted to fight me on the streets, would I ask him what his weight was? No. So you can schedule this s—, and let’s stop this ‘blah, blah, blah.’”

Pettis, however, needs to recover. When he does get well, his immediate future belongs to Grant, who earned a title shot with an impressive knockout of two-time lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard at UFC 160. The Canadian fighter congratulated Pettis following his title grab.

For complete coverage of UFC 164, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site. And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Anthony Pettis)