• TUF 13 Finale

Pettis is in a 'shi**y' position, admits Dana White

ESPN staff
June 2, 2011
Anthony Pettis was the WEC lightweight champion © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has accepted that Anthony Pettis is currently widing a wave of bad luck ahead of his TUF 13 Finale main event with Clay Guida.

Pettis enters the UFC as the last WEC lightweight champion, but even a victory over Guida on Saturday will not book him a shot at UFC gold.

"Showtime" has watched in frustration as Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard's duel continues to be delayed, first by a draw at UFC 125 and then by injuries that prevented their rematch at UFC 130.

Pettis is next in line to meet the winner, but he has been forced to accept a dangerous encounter with Clay Guida, where defeat would see him lose his No. 1 contender status. And, with Edgar and Maynard not expected to fight until late in the year, it is likely Pettis will need to secure two victories in order to retain his place at the front of the queue.

"That kid's in a bad position. He's supposed to be the next in line," White said to Fighters Only. "All this craziness happens. Edgar and Maynard both get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. The first one is a draw, then they get hurt, and it gets pushed back again.

"But this is one of those things that happens in a sport like this...I respect Pettis for stepping up and taking on a tough guy like Guida, and he'll probably have to fight again before he gets a shot at one of those guys.

"Sucks for him. It's a shi**y position for him to be in."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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