Proving the rumors true, former WEC and UFC Lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will in fact be making the move down to the Featherweight division.
Anthony Pettis vs. Charles Oliveira has been set for the UFC’s next trip to Vancouver for UFC on Fox 21.
Pettis (18-5, 5-4 in UFC) is currently riding a career-low three-fight losing streak. After losing his Lightweight title to current champion Rafael dos Anjos last year at UFC 185, he suffered two further losses to Edson Barboza and current Lightweight contender Eddie Alvarez. Prior to that, Pettis held one title defense in his reign as champion over Gilbert Melendez where he submitted the former Strikeforce Lightweight champion in the second with a guillotine choke. Pettis had once hinted at moving down to Featherweight before, even going as far as to possibly challenge Jose Aldo for the Featherweight championship at UFC 163 before injury would force him to skip that opportunity.
Oliveira (21-5, 9-5 in UFC) is coming off an impressive submission victory over Myles Jury who was making his Featherweight debut. Oliveira, also a former Lightweight, is looking to build back another streak after a first round injury TKO against Max Holloway last Fall would forcibly snap his streak. Oliveira has gone 7-3 as a Featherweight and is currently ranked #7 in the UFC’s rankings.
UFC on Fox 21 will take place in Vancouver on August 27th. This card does not yet carry a main event.