T.J. Grant says Anthony Pettis’ attempt to take the lightweight title shot was ‘disrespectful’
No cuts, no butts, no coconuts. It's something we were taught as we lined up for dismissal in grade school. It's a lesson we live with when in line at the grocery store or the ATM. It's an idea heavily enforced as we board planes by specific groups.
With that in mind, you can see why T.J. Grant was miffed when he heard Anthony Pettis trying to take his title shot with Benson Henderson at UFC 164. After an injury to Pettis forced him out of his featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo at UFC 163, Pettis said he wanted to fight later that month.
“I can be 100-percent ready to fight Benson Henderson in [at UFC 164] Milwaukee. With all due respect to TJ Grant, Milwaukee is my town and the fight with Ben is the fight everyone has wanted for years,” read a statement that Pettis released to Fuel TV. “If it works out, great; if not, I will get my shot very soon. But I think we all know which fight the fans want to see and the entire city of Milwaukee!”
Pettis' pleas to fight at UFC 164 didn't matter as his injury required he sit out for six weeks. Grant was still unhappy that Pettis tried to take the shot.
“I wish it was handled a little differently. Him of all people, I think it was disrespectful, to do that against someone who has earned the right to fight is not right,” Grant said to ESPN. “Unfortunately he got hurt but it was low class, I thought. I didn’t want to get into the whole talking thing. I got here legitimately and earned it. Ultimately, what he was saying was that he wanted my title-shot which was incredibly disrespectful. It was pretty dirty.”
On two different occasions, Pettis had and then lost title shots. First, the draw between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard put Pettis back in line, and then the injury. You can see why Grant was upset when Pettis tried to do to him what has happened to Pettis before.
