Has Corruption Reached the UFC? [Pettis vs Dos Anjos]

The announcement of UFC 185 headliner came as a shock to many UFC fight fans; Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis is set to defend his title for a 2nd time against Rafeal Dos Anjos. With Pettis coming in as a favorite and many fans excited about seeing Pettis in action again, what is being ignored is why 22-0 (6-0) in the UFC Khabib Nurmagomedov was passed over?

With UFC recent deal with brand powerhouse Reebok and the recent positive drug test of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, it seems that the UFC is worried about its image. Pettis has been seen on the box of wheaties and almost every other UFC promotions and has been called by UFC president Dana White "The best pound for pound fighter in the world." Is the UFC trying to protect Pettis from his flaws? And thus protect its brand name?

It would undoubtably be troublesome to see the Dagestani Sambo world champion and Judo black belt Nurmagomedov get the best of Pettis, but if Dana White wants politics and corruption to not rear its head in the UFC, then popularity cannot be placed over perspiration. Dos Anjos was defeated by Nurmagomedov on the undercard of UFC on Fox 11 in a one-sided fight that saw RDA lose by unanimous decision. It could be said that Dos Anjos, after his knockout victory of former WEC and UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 49, that Dos Anjos was placed against the incomplete Nate Diaz to set up his bout with Pettis, denying once again Nurmagomedov's claim to a title challenge. It can also be said that Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is being fast-tracked to meet Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 59 in hopes of another win to set him up for a second shot at Pettis. Pettis and Cerrone are amongst the two most popular fighters in the UFC as a whole. Profits will sky-rocket; as much as MMA is unpredictable, therein lies always a formula to predict the unpredictable. Dana White, Lorenzo Fertita and Joe Silva has found that formula, the very one that is manipulating not only profits, but fighter's careers.