by King Hazard
After losing the title to Rafael dos Anjos in March, Anthony Pettis had one goal in mind, to rebound on the main card of UFC on FOX 16 in July, but an injury has forced the former UFC lightweight champion off the card.
According to Pettis’ head coach Duke Roufus from Roufusport Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee, Pettis suffered an injury in his right elbow (a torn muscle and ligaments) during wrestling practice on Tuesday night.
MMA is a very physically demanding sport, especially the wrestling and grappling. Our fighters rarely get an injury from striking that causes a cancellation. It’s the wrestling and grappling.
Pettis was scheduled to face Myles Jury at 155-pounds and just withdrew from the fight so he can undergo surgery next week in Las Vegas. It’s an injury that will put Pettis out on the bench for approximately four-to-six months. The elbow surgery will be performed by the UFC’s orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steven Sanders.
As a result, Brazilian mixed martial artist Edson Barboza has stepped in and replaced Pettis for UFC on FOX 16. He will face Jury on July 25, 2015.
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