Former UFC lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, is ready to return to the octagon. According to MMAMania, he was out of the UFC on FOX 16 card against Myles Jury with an elbow injury and went into surgery.

Pettis was replaced by Edson Barboza for the Jury fight, but Jury got injured himself. He was replaced by Paul Felder, who lost to Barboza.

"Showtime" has set his sights on a December return, possibly to the UFC on FOX 17. The card is headlined by the newly crowned lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, who is on an eight-fight winning streak, per UFC.

"I'm pushing for this year. I'm pushing for a December return. 'Cowboy' and dos Anjos are on the card, and if one of them gets injured I'd be ready to step in," Pettis told Inside MMA via MMAJunkie.

Ultimately, Pettis, who is ranked third in the lightweight rankings wants another shot at RDA. He lost his lightweight title to RDA via a unanimous decision last March 14, 2015, on UFC 185 in Dallas, Texas.

"My ideal opponent would be Rafael dos Anjos - somebody who did that to me, that's something I want back. Ideally, that's the fight I want," Pettis said via MMAJunkie.

"Who makes sense to get me there? You've got Khabib out there with an injury, and I think he's coming back soon. Nate Diaz and me never had a good exchange of words, so Diaz is out there. Anybody who's going to get me my shot back at dos Anjos."

Pettis has a record of 18-3 with seven knockouts and eight submissions.

Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone, on the other hand, has a warning for Rafael dos Anjos. In an interview with Inside MMA, Cerrone was asked about the fight.

"Starting slow - that's what I always do. He capitalized very well and hit me hard. Maybe just starting a little faster. We've got five rounds, man. Cardio's my thing. Five rounds with me is going to be a scary thing for him. Hopefully he trains really hard and does whatever he has to do. I'll be ready. There won't be a question in my mind I'll be the new lightweight champion," Cerrone said as quoted by MMAJunkie.

'Cowboy' was defeated by the current lightweight champion last August 2013. Ever since that fight, Cerrone has been on an eight-fight winning streak.

During that streak, he has submitted Barboza, knocked out Jim Miller and defeated Myles Jury. His most impressive win was against former lightweight champion, Benson Henderson, last January 18 on UFC Fight Night in Boston.

UFC on FOX 17 will be held in Orlando, Fla., at the Amway Center on December 19.

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