NASHVILLE – Making lightweight was one thing, but Anthony Pettis can’t believe he’s event tried to compete at featherweight before.

“I just tell my fiance. I was looking in the mirror, I was like, ‘How did you let me make 145 (pounds)?’ Pettis told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Crazy.”

Now Pettis (21-8 MMA, 8-7 UFC), who missed 145 for a 2016 interim title fight vs. Max Holloway, is ready for his move to welterweight. On Saturday, Pettis meets former 170-pound title challenger Stephen Thompson (14-3-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN+ 6 headliner at Bridgestone Arena.

Just says away, the former 155-pound UFC champion might as well be a new man.

“This time I feel like I got ready for a fight, not a weight cut,” Pettis said. “So I feel amazing.”

That wasn’t the case for Pettis’ most recent bout last October at UFC 229, where he lost to Tony Ferguson via second-round TKO due to a doctor’s stoppage caused by a broken hand. Prior to that, though, the tide was turning against Pettis in the fight. Pettis attributes that to feeling his weight cut, prompting his desire to try out welterweight.

Not only that, but Pettis isn’t happy with how the lightweight division is set up, either, with a logjam surrounding the title picture thanks to champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s suspension and other factors.

“Top 10, I pretty much fought them all,” Pettis said. “Time for a new division, new set of faces. There are some good fights for me. …

“I’m about to tear it up. I just feel so good.”

To hear more from Pettis, watch the video above.

For more on UFC on ESPN+ 6, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.