Anthony Pettis Not Dropping to Featherweight, Eyes Lightweight Title in 2012

Anthony Pettis may not be getting the next crack at the UFC lightweight title, but he’s not going anywhere but on a hunt for the next best challenge at 155lbs.

During UFC Tonight on Fuel TV on Tuesday, it was reported that Pettis was possibly considering a drop to 145lbs and challenging featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

While it was anything but a done deal, the possibility seemed to exist.

Well it appears those reports were false, because Pettis is making it clear that his goal is capturing the UFC lightweight title, and that alone is his mission in 2012.

“I’m not dropping to 145 to fight Aldo,” Pettis wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday. “155 is my home and I’ll get that belt.”

Pettis appeared to be in the proverbial catbird seat after his emphatic knockout win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144. Just two fights earlier, Pettis defeated current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the final WEC fight before the competitors shifted over to the Octagon in 2011.

UFC President Dana White immediately said that Pettis was most likely the next challenger for Henderson’s newly minted belt.

“I think he’s gonna get it,” said White about Pettis’ shot.

In the long run however, the UFC opted to give former champion Frankie Edgar another crack at the belt after losing a razor close decision to Henderson to drop the title.

That left Pettis in limbo without an opponent.

“Let me be very clear on this, Anthony Pettis is fully focused on the 155lb belt,” Pettis’ manager Mike Roberts wrote via his Twitter account late Tuesday night. “Not very likely he would go down to featherweight.

“He could make 145lbs but lightweight still has some unfinished business.”

It looks like Pettis has the final word now and he’s staying in the lightweight division.

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