Twitter has become a powerful marketing tool for fighters to improve their standing in the UFC's ranks.
Surging lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov took full advantage of the social media platform by calling out UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis.
Things got started when Benson Henderson took a slight jab at Pettis in the post-fight press conference for being injured and not defending the lightweight title since winning it back in August.
Three peat???
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) June 8, 2014
While Pettis was focusing on his biggest rival in the lightweight division, Nurmagomedov let Pettis know there's another man he should be concerned with.
@Showtimepettis I'm coming for you@ufc
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 8, 2014
Pettis responded by questioning the strength of Nurmagomedov's resume.
@TeamKhabib who have you beat again? Every has something to say when I'm Injured lol!!!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) June 8, 2014
The exciting lightweight contender would then echo what Henderson mentioned by pointing out how injury prone Pettis has been thus far in his MMA career.
@Showtimepettis How much of disability payment do you get???@ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 8, 2014
Although Pettis would remove the tweet, Bloody Elbow was able to capture Pettis saying that he's not worried about Nurmagomedov because his car costs more than Nurmagomedov's house.
Nurmagomedov would then send a final two tweets toward Pettis in regard to his financial situation.
@Showtimepettis @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta See you soon, just do not lose your belt.?
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 8, 2014
@Showtimepettis you should be active in charity if you have so much money, and not sit in the clubs with beer homie
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 8, 2014
Although Pettis has become one of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster, he has had a number of injury issues. Those injuries have caused Pettis to compete only five times since coming over from the WEC back in 2011.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career with a record of 22-0. His latest win came over top-five-ranked Rafael dos Anjos, and the Dagestan native has been nothing short of must-see TV in the Octagon.
He's also apparently a guy nobody wants to fight.
Pettis will be on the sidelines until later this year as he will be coaching opposite Gilbert Melendez on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Nurmagomedov will likely take another high-profile fight to cement his status as a top contender, which likely means we haven't seen the end of these two exchanging words.
