UFC lightweight contender Anthony Pettis was hospitalized yesterday in Milwaukee with a staph infection. The staph infection was in his right elbow, which is the same arm that he recently had shoulder surgery on.
Inside MMA on AXS TV was first to report on the incident and they talked to his brother, Sergio on the show last night.
BREAKING NEWS – @showtimepettis hospitalized with an infection in his elbow in the same arm as his surgically repaired shoulder
— Inside MMA (@InsideMMAaxstv) October 23, 2012
This is another example of where the last WEC champion can not catch a break. He was supposed to get a title shot when he entered the UFC, but that never happened. He was then supposed to get a shot at Benson Henderson after UFC 144, but Frankie Edgar got the rematch. Then, he was potentially going to be a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter,” but the UFC decided to make the coaches Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.
A staph infection can become very serious if it’s not attended to immediately. It’s unknown at this time when Pettis will be released from the hospital and when the lightweight fighter will be able to get back to training.
The UFC was hoping to have Pettis return at the beginning of 2013 to face Donald Cerrone, which it’s believe will be a number one contenders bout for the UFC title and the winner of that fight would face the winner of the UFC on FOX 5 main event between Henderson and Diaz.