Rafael Dos Anjos Could Receive Lightweight Title Fight Against Anthony Pettis

After trouncing Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 13, Rafael dos Anjos might just be in line for a lightweight title fight. UFC President Dana White announced the news at the UFC on Fox 13 post-fight press conference:

"

Dana White says that Nurmagomedov isn't healthy and that Dos Anjos gets the title shot against Pettis. #UFConFox13

— Rob Tatum (@RobTatumMMA) December 14, 2014"

It is hard to argue against the notion, frankly. Dos Anjos is on an impressive three-fight winning streak and is 8-1 over his last nine fights. During that stretch, he has scored impressive victories over Diaz, Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson.

Dos Anjos was utterly dominant against Diaz on Saturday. The Stockton bad boy looked sluggish as Dos Anjos out-pointed him standing and demonstrated improved offensive wrestling skills by repeatedly taking him down. While Diaz would survive the fight, he walked out of the cage bloody, battered and on the bad end of a unanimous decision (to the tune of 30-27, 30-26, 30-26).

The one big caveat, of course, is that this title fight is contingent on the health of Dagestani wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov actually defeated Dos Anjos in relatively lopsided fashion at UFC on Fox 11 in April, earning a unanimous 30-27 nod from the judges courtesy of his relentless takedowns and top game. However, while Nurmagomedov was storming toward a title shot, a knee injury forced him to withdraw from a UFC 178 fight with Cerrone, and he has been on the shelf since.

As of September, Nurmagomedov was targeting a February return. If he can make good on that, and if Pettis' injured hand does not keep him out for too long, UFC 185 on March 14 would be a good potential landing spot for the next lightweight title fight.