Anthony Pettis cleared to resume training following elbow surgery

Don't call it a comeback, he's been injured here for years.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (18-3) will be strapping on the gloves for the first time since late May, as doctors have given "Showtime" the green light to resume punching after his impromptu elbow surgery.

There's no hurry, as far as I'm concerned, though early estimates indicate a fall return.

Now that Pettis, 28, no longer wears the 155-pound strap -- thanks to a lopsided defeat to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185 earlier this year in Dallas, Texas, the urgency to get him back inside the Octagon isn't what it used to be. Besides, the one lightweight most fans want him to fight is also…