UFC featherweight Conor McGregor gets his fair share of hate, but he's won over Anthony Pettis.

The former lightweight champ wasn't impressed with McGregor's TKO win over short-notice replacement Chad Mendes at UFC 189. Pettis said in October that McGregor "hadn't beaten anyone yet," but that changed at UFC 194 when the Irishman knocked out then-champ Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds.

Speaking with UFC commentators Kenny Florian and Jon Anik, Pettis is warming up to the brash champ.

"It's great," Pettis said of McGregor's success in 2015. "To see the guy talk the talk and then beat Aldo like that. We've had some great guys go down there and try to beat Jose Aldo and it didn't work. [McGregor] comes along talking the talk and then he walks the walk. You've got to respect that. It's great for the lighter weight classes. He's bringing in the numbers like he says. People want to watch him fight."

Pettis faces fellow contender Eddie Alvarez Jan. 17 at UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz, so he took some swipes at his colleagues looking to book a money fight with McGregor.

"I feel it's annoying to see everybody try to call him out now," Pettis said of McGregor. "The guy made his name on his own and all these guys are trying to take his shine. I guess that's the sport. Somebody comes in and creates their name, their buzz gets big and somebody else tries to steal it."

One of those shine-stealers is current lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, who called out McGregor after an impressive first-round stoppage win over Donald Cerrone Dec. 19 at UFC on FOX 17.

If McGregor choses to move up to 155 pounds UFC president Dana White has stated that the Irishman would walk into an immediate title shot against Dos Anjos.

"I don't know," Pettis said of McGregor's chances of beating Dos Anjos. "I didn't pick him to beat Jose Aldo but he surprised me with that first-round knockout. If he has the right style? He is a southpaw. Last time we saw Dos Anjos fight a southpaw it was Nate Diaz, but he doesn't really have the kicks. I guess stylistically it's a good matchup but it's a different ballgame at 155.

"These guys aren't the 145ers. I don't think Jose Aldo would move up to 155 because it's a whole different ballgame up here. Look at the top five, top 10, everyone is a challenge. There's no easy fights at 155."

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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