Morning Report: The next B.J. Penn, Anthony Pettis plans on being UFC's 'pay-per-view king'

UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has only defended his title once since taking it off Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in 2013, but he's already planning out his legacy in the division.

"Me getting that belt was the first goal," Pettis told FOX Sports. "Now it's time to set this legacy in place and make sure people remember my name for a long time. When you look at the lightweight division, the biggest name that sticks out is B.J. Penn. He's an icon and he's been around a long time and he was dominant as the champ."

Penn's accolades at lightweight weren't actually all that much more impressive than his successors. Penn only defended his title three times before losing it via a unanimous decision to Frankie Edgar in 2010 at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.

Edgar retained the title three times, himself. After beating Penn again in their title rematch later that year at UFC 118, Edgar would both draw with and knock out Gray Maynard at UFC 125 and UFC 136, respectively.

Henderson also defended the title just three times, albeit a bit more controversially. Scoring a split decision win in his rematch with Edgar at UFC 150, Henderson would earn a unanimous decision over Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 5 later that same year. Henderson then won another split decision, this time against Gilbert Melendez at UFC on FOX 7 in 2013.

"I think I'm set up to be the next name in the line," said Pettis. "You have Frankie Edgar, you have Ben Henderson, but I think I can be the most dominant champ in this lightweight division."

With some of the promotion's top draws like former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and former middleweight champion Anderson Silva nearing an exit, Pettis believes he has the potential to be the sport's next bankable star.

"I want to be one of the pay-per-view kings in the UFC," Pettis said. "I think there's a path right now set up for someone to come in and take over, and I can be that guy. I have the fighting style and people like seeing me fight. I don't plan on changing that. I just need to keep doing what I do and everything will happen."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'There was some foul play.' UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones talks about the new Reebok ZPump Fusion shoe, his new commercial, the prank both he and Rumble Johnson pulled off this past week, super-fights, the handling of his drug test, and more.

The McGregor division. Conor McGregor talks about Cat Zingano throwing her hat at him prior to UFC 184, the new Reebok ZPump, being the main event of UFC 189, his hope to break a million PPV buys, and much more.

Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses UFC 184 results, Ronda Rousey as Mike Tyson, Rampage Jackson vs. Bellator and more in this week's live chat.

'He would never use anything.' Anderson Silva's boxing coach doesn't believe the former champion would ever look to gain an advantage by using PEDs.

Rubber match? After having fought twice in MMA, Chael Sonnen and Renato Sobral will grapple at Metamoris VI.

MEDIA STEW

Free Fight: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone.

Anderson Silva talks failed drug test, rematch with Nick Diaz.

Inside MMA's viewer submissions.

Paige VanZant on Reebok Critics: 'Why Don't I Deserve It?'

Dan Severn talks UFC debut and gives Brock Lesnar some advice.

Firas Zahabi on GSP going Hollywood.

Long watches.

Joe Rogan Experience #619 - Bryan Callen & Brendan Schaub

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GPB - Liam McGeary and Dr. AnnMaria DeMars

...

Press Row with Jordan Breen and Patrick Wyman

TWEETS

Pump crew.

Launching the @Reebok #ZPumpFusion runner today in New York City. #GetPumped pic.twitter.com/P8huh4pQ83

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 5, 2015

Had a great 24hours in New York with @Reebok :) follow my manager for all my updates @mikeMMAinc pic.twitter.com/6eBdJlZNTw

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) March 5, 2015

Cool promo image of team @reebok fighters promoting the new #GetPumped kicks! http://t.co/Tx2MfdH6ke pic.twitter.com/kJocM6PBOh

— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 4, 2015

At @reebok #getpumped event w this crew @THEREALSWIZZZ @JonnyBones @PaigeVanzantUFC @TheNotoriousMMA @lorenzofertitta pic.twitter.com/aFn8pCYhNh

— Dana White (@danawhite) March 4, 2015

Going hard.

Cute Ms. @DrAnnMaria your motherly instincts to protect your lil cub @RondaRousey is kicking in, it's natural but The lion is coming. @ufc

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015

@criscyborg @RondaRousey @ufc Yawn :-o

— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) March 4, 2015

Bom dia!! #dontbescaryhomie #letsagree6monthsOlympictesting #noexcuses #criscyborg #chuteboxestyle pic.twitter.com/TEzrcjTQ6c

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015

I don't try to intimidate anybody before a fight. That's nonsense. I intimidate people by hitting them. Eu não... http://t.co/ucq5ZXHlq9

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015

"@FOXSports: .@RondaRousey's mom responds after @criscyborg challenges Ronda to fight Mom? no one is in high school to call mom!

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015

"@joeyjaws: @criscyborg @FOXSports @RondaRousey sounds like mommy rousey is scared for her daughter."

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015

New Post From My Blog - How much work is 46 seconds really? @invictafights @theug @ufc First I want to thank... http://t.co/vy1yQZnthz

— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015

Ladies weigh in.

pic.twitter.com/MWu0SQurfD

— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) March 4, 2015

This whole "Rousey fighting a man" thing is getting old. She's proved herself as the best 135er in the world and it smacks of condescension.

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 4, 2015

Oh yeah, you've beaten almost everyone in your weight class/division but it's not good enough because they didn't have penises.

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 4, 2015

I don't date fighters RT @MIclimber: @julesk_fighter You could take out Uncle Creepy 1000%

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 4, 2015

Men who actually ARE elite enough to be pulling the "physically superior male" card are almost never the ones who need to bring it up ;-)

— Kaitlin Young (@kaitlin_young) March 5, 2015

Congrats.

I'm back on The Ultimate Fighter! But this time, I play Coach KG! Ill be the new coach for Ultimate... https://t.co/Ya1W5Y1Y0V

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) March 4, 2015

Opposite coach is my longtime friend @effyescudero , and no we are not fighting each other!

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) March 4, 2015

Yep.

"@CodyXH09: Cowboy I'm a big fan of yours and I was wondering if you have any advice for someone who wants to pursue mma?" Be a doctor

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) March 5, 2015

The master.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (March 4 2015)

L.C. Davis vs. Hideo Tokoro at Bellator 135

David Branch vs. Ronny Markes at WSOF 20

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas.

I'm sick of the soft stance from fans and media regarding PEDs.

Here it goes again. Now I'm hearing people's stance soften on Silva because whelp, it may have been a rehabilitative nature. Afterall, he had the nasty leg break and jeez, who wouldn't need some extra help recovering from that! It's doctor recommend isn't it? Hell, nothing will heal you up faster than these pills or this needle in your rear end.

Okay, how about this counter argument. How about the guys who choose not to use PEDs? They don't have the luxury of faster recoveries. People are completely dismissing the disadvantage to the clean fighter out there who sits out from injuries and doesn't collect a paycheck. Those guys get less fights I guess right? They can't climb the ranks as fast.

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Check out the rest of the post here.

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