If you thought the welterweight pairing of Stephen Thompson vs. Anthony Pettis felt a bit odd from the moment it was announced as the main event of UFC Nashville, you’re not alone.
A two-time title challenger, Thompson has long been one of the top contenders in the UFC’s welterweight division. Pettis, on the other hand, is a former champion who’s spent most of his career at 155 pounds and has never been a particularly big lightweight, having even fought as low as 145 pounds. But nonetheless, Pettis proposed the matchup on social media out of the blue, and now the matchup is set for March 23 at UFC Nashville, where Thompson will officially welcome Pettis to the welterweight division.