COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Newly minted UFC welterweight Anthony Pettis got Santiago Ponzinibbio’s attention with a highlight-reel knockout.
The surging Argentinian added Pettis to a list of desired opponents after the former UFC and WEC champ starched Stephen Thompson at UFC on ESPN+ 6 this past Saturday.
Ponzinibbio’s list also includes ex-welterweight champ Tyron Woodley.
“I’m looking for a good fight, a big name,” he told MMA Junkie. “I have seven victories in row. The last three fights … three guys with a ranking. I think I deserve a fight with a top guy. There’s a lot of big names right now.
“Anthony Pettis is a good option after this (past) Saturday. He looks amazing at 170. Tyron Woodley is a really good fight. I think he’s a really tough fighter. He loves the title, but this is one fight. It doesn’t matter. … A lot of good names in this division right now. I’m waiting for a good fight.”
Waiting is a familiar issue for Ponzinibbio, who most recently appeared in the octagon this past November. A hometown headliner and a fourth-round knockout earned him a seventh straight win. It didn’t necessarily translate to a quick fight, though he said that’s not all his fault.
After verbally lining up a fight with another former lightweight, Rafael dos Anjos, Ponzinibbio twiddled his thumbs as the ex-champ accepted a fight with Kevin Lee at UFC on ESPN+ 9 in May.
“He said I didn’t except the fight with him, but this is not true,” he said of dos Anjos. “He doesn’t like the fight with me. Right now I’m waiting for a good fight, a good opponent. I’m ready. I’m ready to fight. I’m in good shape right now. I am waiting.
“Right now the division is exciting. ‘RDA’ no more – he’s got Kevin Lee. He closed the fight. But there’s a lot of other good options at welterweight. It’s an exciting division. I’m trying to fight as soon as possible. I am ready. It’s an exciting division.”
New champion Kamaru Usman has reshuffled the deck at the top, with ex-interim champ Colby Covington expected to get the next title shot. Ponzinibbio is targeting a May return against Pettis or Woodley, who recently added his name to an ever-long list of fighters wanting to face ex-champ Conor McGregor.
“Me too,” Ponzinibbio deadpanned. “I’d like to fight Conor McGregor. Everybody likes the fight with Conor McGregor right now. I don’t know if (Woodley) would accept the fight with me, but I like the fight with him. For sure 100 percent I would accept the fight with him.”
That hasn’t been the hard part so far with Ponzinibbio’s career. He’s accepted almost every fight offered to him unless injuries interceded. Getting top-ranked opponents to accept? Not so easy.
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