WEC never dies. Former WEC and UFC champ Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (22-10) is looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses. It won’t be a step down in competition either, as he draws a former opponent and fellow WEC stand-out, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (36-14-1). The two faced off in 2013, with Pettis viciously finishing Cowboy with a kick to the body, winning Pettis a KO of the night bonus. This time around, both have their backs to the wall, looking to resurge in the tail-end of their careers.

Cowboys Path to Victory

Cowboy is as seasoned as they come. He may be coming off three straight losses, but when you average four fights a year, you’re likely to hit some skids. Cerrone’s style is very similar to Pettis, as they both are submission artists with vicious knockout kicks. Where Cerrone can excel is with the tighter fundamentals. If he can get his pressure of combos on Pettis early, he can keep the former champ on his heels, to setup the high kick on the exit. If it goes to the ground, Cerrone is a BJJ black belt under Elliot Marshall. It’s a big question mark though as to how it matches up to Pettis’ black belt abilities. To be safe, he should keep the pressure standing, and work the low kicks and body shots to keep the action moving.

Showtime Pettis’ Path to Victory

Showtime is crafty everywhere. Based on their previous match, Pettis has the stand-up advantage. On the ground, Pettis does look to be more dangerous, looking for more submissions. What Pettis wants to do is keep Cerrone guessing, throwing his creative spins and unorthodox combinations. As long as Pettis does not get over aggressive and expose himself to counters, as he has in the past; he should be able to pick the former contender apart.

Cowboy vs. Pettis Pick / Prediction

Anthony Pettis by TKO. Both men have a good amount of wear and tear, but Cowboy has taken more damage with more time in the octagon.