Santiago Ponzinibbio Issues Fiery Challenge to Anthony Pettis

Anthony Pettis needed just one fight to move past Santiago Ponzinibbio in the welterweight ranks, and clearly the surging fighter is looking to rectify that situation.

Pettis made his welterweight debut last month at UFC Nashville, and took out longtime, welterweight contender Stephen Thompson in the third round. As a result, the former lightweight champ moved into the #8 spot of the UFC’s 170 ranks. Ponzinibbio, meanwhile, is currently #9.

Well, as noted above, the Argentine fighter has let it be know that he’s not okay with that situation, as Ponzinibbio recently shared out this:

there’s no way I’m going to allow you be ahead of me, come get this beating, you won’t get lucky like last time.

You can kind of understand Ponzinibbio’s frustration here. After all, he has won seven straight bouts and during that time, Ponzinibbio has defeated contenders like Gunnar Nelson and Neil Magny. Neither of those two, however, were ranked as high as “Wonderboy” (who has slipped to  #7 after a long run at the top of the division).

That debate aside, Pettis – Ponzinibbio would make for a very interesting, entertaining fight. Would “Showtime” be interested in fighting him though? Few would argue that in terms of North American audiences, Ponzinibbio isn’t nearly as big of a name as Thompson. So, Pettis might look to secure a bout with someone who is higher ranked and better known, either at 170 or 155.