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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=448899" target="_blank">
Pettis: I don't see Gil making it past the first
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=448899" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=74&q=75&x=2&y=121&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=ufc-181-poster-12-01-2014-19-30-23-739.jpg" /></a>
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<p>Anthony Pettis recently spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/DamonMartin" target="_blank">Damon Martin</a> for <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/story/anthony-pettis-doesn-t-see-a-way-gilbert-melendez-survives-past-the-first-round-112614?cmpid=tsmtw:fscom:ufconfox" target="_blank">FOX Sports</a> ahead of his fight with Gil Melendez at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although Pettis has been out nearly 16 months, first recovering from a knee injury, and then shooting The Ultimate Fighter 20, he doesn't see Melendez making it past the first round.</p>
"I think he's very basic when it comes to standup," said Pettis. "He's got decent boxing and he's tough. That's most Mexican fighters, they are the most exciting fighters, they are tough and have good boxing. Unfortunately for him, that's my zone. If he wants to stand in there and trade, he's not going to see me having a Diego Sanchez fight, I'll tell you that.
"I think I outclass him in the striking like he's a beginner. He's still new to striking. His wrestling's not strong enough to hold me down. Once it's on the feet, he's in for a long night. Or maybe a short night."
"Look at Cerrone -- Cerrone's supposed to be one of the best kickboxers in the division, and I ended that fight in three minutes. A couple body kicks and that was it. I was just warming up," Pettis said.
"If you get a guy like Melendez and he's tough enough to get past the first couple of minutes, I think you're going to see the best Anthony Pettis. If he's tough enough to withstand the first couple of minutes, you're going to see how good I really am."
"I think I'm night and day a different fighter. Even against Benson, that was a short camp, I was coming off that little LCL tear, that was not the best Anthony Pettis. I want to say I was 75 percent as a fighter that night. I'm focusing in on the details. I'm getting older now so I'm getting smarter and wiser, knowing positions more, my takedown defense is better, I'm just ready to go out there and (show) everybody what I'm capable of."
"It's mixed martial arts so anything is possible. With that being said, I don't see it going past the first."
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