Other names Showtime Stance Orthodox Height 1.77 m Reach 73.0 in (185 cm) Role Mixed Martial Artist | Name Anthony Pettis Nationality American Weight 70 kg | |
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Siblings Sergio Pettis, Ray Pettis | ||
Anthony Pettis: Fighting Nate Diaz at UFC 241 is personal | Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show
Anthony Pettis would love to fight Conor McGregor | UFC Fight Night | ESPN MMA
Anthony Paul Pettis (born January 27, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing as a Lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is the former UFC Lightweight Champion. Pettis was also the final WEC Lightweight Champion prior to the promotion being merged into the UFC. At one point, he was ranked as a top-ten pound for pound fighter. He is currently ranked #13 in the official UFC lightweight rankings.
Contents
- Anthony Pettis Fighting Nate Diaz at UFC 241 is personal Ariel Helwanis MMA Show
- Anthony Pettis would love to fight Conor McGregor UFC Fight Night ESPN MMA
- Early life
- Career
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- Championships and accomplishments
- Personal life
- Television
- References
Early life
Born to Eugene Pettis, Jr. and Annette Garcia, Anthony Pettis grew up in the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, along with his older brother Ray Pettis and younger brother Sergio Pettis, who fights in the flyweight division. Pettis is of Puerto Rican and Mexican ancestry. His grandfather, Eugene Perez, Anglicized the family name from Perez to Pettis to avoid discrimination. Pettis attended Dominican High School.
He started training taekwondo and boxing at the age of 5. In college he also started wrestling. When he went to train mixed martial arts at Roufusport at the age of 18 he had already a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo. He later trained in capoeira.
On November 12, 2003, Pettis' father was stabbed to death by a robber at a friend's house.
Career
Anthony Pettis made his professional MMA debut in December 2007. He compiled a record of 8–0 in all fights being held by Adam Sandoval and Duke Roufus before debuting with the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), winning the Gladiator Fighting Series Lightweight Championship. His last fight before joining the WEC was a short notice welterweight bout. Pettis also has a professional kickboxing background. In MMA, Pettis is known for his smooth and technical fighting style, as well as his athletic feats and wide range of techniques.
Pettis is coached by kickboxer and MMA trainer Duke Roufus and is a member of Roufusport where he trains with fighters Alan Belcher, Erik Koch, Ben Rothwell, Ben Askren and Danny Downes.
Before joining the WEC, Pettis went to The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom tryouts, but didn't make it to the show.
2009
Pettis was expected to make his promotional debut against Anthony Njokuani on April 5, 2009, at WEC 40. However, Pettis pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and was replaced by Bart Palaszewski.
Pettis made his WEC debut at WEC 41, where he defeated Mike Campbell via first round triangle choke.
He was then expected to fight Rob McCullough at WEC 44 on November 18, but was pulled off the card with an undisclosed injury.
Pettis suffered his first professional loss on December 19, at WEC 45, dropping a split decision to Bart Palaszewski.
2010
Pettis rebounded from the loss with a head-kick KO victory over Danny Castillo on March 6, at WEC 47, earning Knockout of the Night honors. Training for the fight, as well as Pettis' family life, were both documented on an episode of the MTV show World of Jenks.
Pettis suffered almost no damage in the bout with Castillo and made a quick return at WEC 48 against Alex Karalexis. He won the fight via submission in the second round.
Pettis faced Shane Roller on August 18, at WEC 50. Pettis surprised many by taking down Roller multiple times and frustrating him with fast paced scrambles. Pettis displayed diversity in his striking with two Capoeira kicks, the martelo and the aú batido. After several submission attempts, Pettis finally secured a fight ending triangle choke in the closing seconds of the fight, earning a Submission of the Night bonus.
His last WEC fight came against Benson Henderson on December 16, at WEC 53 for the WEC Lightweight Championship. The fight was closely contested throughout, providing back and forth action, both standing and on the ground. In the fifth round Pettis ran up the cage, jumped off the cage, then landed a switch kick while airborne. Sports reporters later named this the Showtime Kick. Pettis won the fight via unanimous decision (48–47, 49–46, 48–47) to become the final WEC Lightweight Champion. The fight was also awarded as Fight of the Night which won Henderson and Pettis an extra $10,000.
2010
In October 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As part of the merger, a majority of the WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
Pettis was expected to face the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, which took place at UFC 125. However, the bout was declared a draw, and Edgar–Maynard 3 was scheduled for UFC 130, but both fighters sustained injuries before the fight, which was postponed.
2011
Instead of waiting for the winner of Edgar/Maynard 3, Pettis faced Clay Guida on June 4, at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale. Despite repeatedly getting taken down by Guida, Pettis showed good defense off his back, controlling Guida's wrists and attempting multiple submissions, while taking little damage, even securing Guida's back. However, Guida was able to escape and in return secured Pettis's back to end the third round ultimately giving Guida the victory via unanimous decision.
Pettis defeated Jeremy Stephens via split decision on October 8, at UFC 136 in a closely contested bout. Pettis used superior wrestling to control Stephens which was especially showcased in round 2, where he was able to take Stephens down three times.
2012
Pettis faced Joe Lauzon on February 25, at UFC 144. He won the fight via first-round KO, with a head kick followed by punches. His performance earned Knockout of the Night honors.
After spending the majority of 2012 recovering from a litany of injuries, Pettis faced Donald Cerrone on January 26, 2013, at UFC on Fox 6. Pettis won the fight by TKO in the first round, finishing Cerrone with a kick to the body. The performance also earned Pettis Knockout of the Night honors. After the victory, Dana White said he was "sold" on Pettis and admitted that after Benson Henderson against Gilbert Melendez on UFC on Fox 7, Pettis was to be the next to fight for the lightweight title.
2013
On February 5, it was announced that Pettis would not wait for a title shot at lightweight, and would instead be dropping down to 145 pounds to challenge featherweight champion, José Aldo on August 3, at UFC 163. However, on June 14, Dana White announced that Pettis had pulled out of the Aldo bout with a serious knee injury, and that Aldo would instead defend the title against Chan Sung Jung.
A few weeks later after a quick recovery, it was announced on July 12 that Pettis would receive a UFC lightweight title shot as he replaced an injured TJ Grant against Benson Henderson on August 31, at UFC 164. The fight was a rematch from the last WEC event, WEC 53, where Henderson was defeated by Pettis via unanimous decision. Pettis defeated Henderson via armbar submission in the first round, taking a championship belt from Henderson for the second time, and becoming the new UFC Lightweight Champion. The win also earned Pettis his first Submission of the Night bonus award in the UFC.
Pettis was expected to make his first title defense against TJ Grant on December 14, at UFC on Fox 9. However, Grant revealed in mid-September that he had yet to be medically cleared after suffering a concussion in training and would not be eligible to compete on December 14. Pettis was then expected to face Josh Thomson at the event. However, the bout was canceled in mid-November after Pettis pulled out of the bout citing a knee injury.
2014
José Aldo again was in talks to fight Pettis after defending his title against Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169. At the post-fight press conference, Aldo expressed interest to move up and fight Pettis at 155 lbs. However, those plans were quickly refuted as Pettis was selected to serve as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 20, opposite Gilbert Melendez and the two would face each other at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014. Pettis won the fight via guillotine choke in the second round, becoming the first man to finish Melendez. He also earned a Performance of the Night bonus award.
2015
Pettis faced Rafael dos Anjos on March 14, at UFC 185. Dos Anjos won the bout via unanimous decision in a dominant fashion.
Pettis was expected to face Myles Jury on July 25, 2015, at UFC on Fox 16. However, Pettis pulled out of the bout citing another injury and was replaced by Edson Barboza.
2016
Pettis faced Eddie Alvarez on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81. He lost the fight by split decision.
Pettis faced Edson Barboza on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197. Pettis lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On the heels of a three-fight losing streak, Pettis announced in June 2016 his intention to drop to featherweight for his next fight. Pettis fought Charles Oliveira in his featherweight debut on August 27, 2016, at UFC on Fox 21. Pettis won the fight via guillotine choke in the 3rd round.
Pettis faced Max Holloway for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206. At the weigh-ins, Pettis came in at 148 pounds, three pounds over the featherweight limit of 145 lbs. for a championship fight. As a result, in the event that Pettis were to win the fight with Holloway, he would be ineligible for the UFC championship. Pettis was also fined 20% of his purse, which went to Holloway and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. Pettis is the first fighter to miss weight for a UFC championship bout since Travis Lutter at UFC 67 in February 2007. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
2017
Pettis faced Jim Miller in a lightweight bout on July 8, 2017 at UFC 213. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Pettis is expected to face Dustin Poirier on November 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 120.
Championships and accomplishments
Personal life
Along with business partners Duke Roufus and Scott Joffe, Pettis owns the Roufusport MMA Academy and the Showtime Sports Bar in Milwaukee. He also owns the ASP Barbershop in Milwaukee. Anthony and his ex-girlfriend Alexandra have a daughter named Aria, born in July 2011.
Pettis along with Jon Jones, Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez, Mark Muñoz, Chad Mendes, and Scott Jorgensen starred in a Form Athletics (now owned by K-Swiss) commercial.
On December 2, 2013, Pettis received a Certificate of Achievement by the Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker.
On June 30, 2014, it was announced that Pettis signed a sponsorship deal with Reebok.
In the fall of 2014, Pettis was voted to be the first UFC champion to appear on the cover of General Mills' Wheaties box. The box appeared in stores in early 2015. When the box came out Anthony Pettis had already lost his belt to Dos Anjos.
Television
Pettis appeared on episode 4 of World of Jenks, where documentary maker Andrew Jenks lived with Pettis for a week before his fight against Danny Castillo at WEC 47. The episode gave an inside look into Pettis' fight preparations as well as giving insights into his family life.