UFC 246, McGregor vs. Cowboy: Predictions and picks

#5 Anthony Pettis vs Carlos Diego Ferreira

Can Anthony Pettis pick up another big knockout this weekend?

After a brief foray up at Welterweight that saw him knock out Stephen Thompson in spectacular fashion before being overcome by Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis is back at 155lbs to take on rising Brazilian contender Carlos Diego Ferreira.

‘Showtime’ remains practically the same fighter he’s always been; deadly from range with his kicks, he’s capable of flashy strikes, carries big power, and he’s tremendous on the ground too. But on the flip side, if a fighter can pressure him and force him backwards, he’s neutered, and his durability is not what it once was either.

Ferreira is on a 5-fight win streak, although it must be said, none of his opponents during that streak were close to the level of Pettis, although they were all dangerous foes. The big question, simply put, is whether Ferreira can pressure ‘Showtime’ enough to prevent his flashy offense from taking hold of the fight.

I’m not convinced he can. While Pettis is no longer that durable, I’m not convinced that Ferreira has the power to take him out with his strikes, and the Brazilian is also not the most explosive athlete. Therefore, I question whether he can close the distance on ‘Showtime’ without taking a nasty kick, either to the head or the body.

He’s also not the wrestler that the likes of Rafael Dos Anjos or Eddie Alvarez were, and even they had problems keeping Pettis down for large amounts of time. Essentially, Ferreira – no offense intended – is the lowest-ranked opponent that ‘Showtime’ has faced in probably six years at least.

This should be an opportunity for Pettis to prove that he’s still very relevant in the 155lbs division, and I see him capitalizing on it by hitting another big KO, potentially with another flashy head kick.

The Pick: Pettis via second-round TKO