Introduction
Sergio Jerome Pettis (born August 18, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently signed with Bellator MMA, competing in the Bantamweight division. Prior to signing with Bellator, Pettis competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought in both the Bantamweight and Flyweight divisions.
Background
Pettis went to Pius XI High School. He is the younger brother of former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. His mother is Mexican and his father was Puerto Rican.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Pettis turned pro on September 10, 2011 against Kyle Vivian at Canadian Fighting Championship 7. He won via TKO in the first round.
On January 7, 2012 Sergio took on Mike Lindquist at Madtown Throwdown 26. He won via submission in round one.
Pettis fought Tom McKenna at LFC 53. He won via first round submission.
Pettis then took on Tony Zelinski at NAFC: Unleashed. He won via second round TKO.
Pettis took on Chris Haney at NAFC: Colosseum. He won via unanimous decision.
In his next fight, Pettis defeated Jimmy Jones via unanimous decision at RFA 4-Griffin vs Escudero.
Pettis was originally set to face Matt Manzanares at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 7, but Manzanares was forced out of the bout due to injury. RFA could not find another opponent for Sergio, therefore the bout was scrapped. Pettis is now set to face Josh Robinson at NAFC: Battleground. Pettis improved his record to an unblemished 7-0 with the unanimous decision victory.
Resurrection Fighting Alliance announced that Pettis will take on UFC vet Jeff Curran for the inaugural RFA Flyweight Championship at RFA 8 on June 21, 2013 inside the historic The Rave/Eagles Club Milwaukee, Wisc.Curran was forced out of the bout due to personal reasons, RFA President Ed Soares reported that Dillard Pegg will take his place and fight Pettis for the flyweight title. He won via KO in the first round to win the RFA flyweight title.
Pettis faced James Porter for the NAFC Bantamweight Championship, at NAFC: Battle in the Ballroom on September 28, 2013. Pettis won via first round submission and was subsequently signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Pettis was expected to make his promotional debut against Vaughan Lee in a bantamweight bout on November 16, 2013 at UFC 167. A week before the fight Lee was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Will Campuzano. Pettis won the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second UFC bout, Pettis faced Alex Caceres at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014. He lost the back-and-forth fight via rear-naked choke submission late in the third round.Despite the loss, Pettis won a Fight of the Night bonus award for the bout.
Pettis faced Yaotzin Meza on June 7, 2014 at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Pettis faced Matt Hobar on December 6, 2014 at UFC 181. He won the fight via unanimous decision.The bout also earned Pettis his second Fight of the Night bonus award.
Pettis faced Ryan Benoit in a flyweight bout on March 14, 2015 at UFC 185.After winning the first round, Pettis was dropped by left hook and finished off with a flurry of ground and pound from Benoit in the second round.
Pettis faced Chris Cariaso on October 3, 2015 at UFC 192. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Pettis faced Chris Kelades on April 23, 2016 at UFC 197. Pettis won the fight by unanimous decision. Sergio was dominating most of the exchanges and defending takedowns by attacking the neck. He stunned Moraga many times and arguably won all 3 rounds. Pettis called out Jussier Formiga in his post fight interview.
Pettis was expected to face Louis Smolka on October 1, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 96. However, Pettis pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event citing what his trainer described as "a minor injury" and was replaced by promotional newcomer Brandon Moreno.
Pettis was expected to face Jussier Formiga on January 15, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 103. However, Formiga pulled out of the fight in late December and was replaced by John Moraga. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Pettis was expected to face Henry Cejudo on May 13, 2017 at UFC 211. However on May 10, Cejudo pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and the bout was canceled.
Pettis faced Brandon Moreno on August 5, 2017 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 114. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
A rescheduled fight with Cejudo took place on December 2, 2017 at UFC 218. Pettis lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Pettis faced Joseph Benavidez on June 9, 2018 at UFC 225. He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
Pettis faced Jussier Formiga on October 6, 2018 at UFC 229. He lost the fight via unanimous decisionAfter the fight, Pettis' head coach Duke Roufus announced that Sergio is returning to the bantamweight division.
Pettis faced Rob Font in a bantamweight bout, on December 15, 2018 at UFC on Fox 31. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Pettis was expected to face Ricardo Ramos on June 29, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 3. However, on June 15, 2019 it was reported that Pettis pulled out of the bout due to injury.
Pettis was scheduled to face Alex Perez on September 21, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 17. However, Perez pulled out of the bout on August 26 citing an injury,and he was replaced by Tyson Nam. Pettis won the fight by unanimous decision.
Pettis was scheduled to face Kai Kara-France on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245. Later, news surfaced that Pettis fought out his contract with his previous fight with Nam, and is testing free agency.
Bellator MMA
On October 24, 2019, it was announced that Pettis signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA. Pettis made his promotional debut at Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020 against Alfred Khashakyan. He was victorious via first round technical submission.
Pettis is now scheduled to face Ricky Bandejas on July 24.
Championships and achievements
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (Two times)
- Resurrection Fighting Alliance
- RFA Flyweight Championship (One time, First)
- North American Fighting Championship
- NAFC Bantamweight Championship (One time )
Personal life
Sergio is the youngest brother of Anthony and Rey Pettis. Sergio graduated from Pius XI Catholic High School located in Milwaukee, WI in June 2012. On November 23, 2003, their father, Eugene Pettis, Jr., was stabbed to death by a robber at a friend's house.
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 24 matches | 19 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 1 |
| By submission | 4 | 1 |
| By decision | 12 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 19–5 | Alfred Khashakyan | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 238 | January 25, 2020 | 1 | 3:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 | Tyson Nam | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | September 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | Flyweight bout. |
| Loss | 17–5 | Rob Font | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 | December 15, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Loss | 17–4 | Jussier Formiga | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 229 | October 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–3 | Joseph Benavidez | Decision (split) | UFC 225 | June 9, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 16–3 | Henry Cejudo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 218 | December 2, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 16–2 | Brandon Moreno | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno | August 5, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 15–2 | John Moraga | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn | January 15, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Chris Kelades | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 197 | April 23, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Chris Cariaso | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 192 | October 3, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 12–2 | Ryan Benoit | TKO (punches) | UFC 185 | March 14, 2015 | 2 | 1:34 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Return to Flyweight. |
| Win | 12–1 | Matt Hobar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 181 | December 6, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 11–1 | Yaotzin Meza | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov | June 7, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 10–1 | Alex Caceres | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson | January 25, 2014 | 3 | 4:39 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–0 | Will Campuzano | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 167 | November 16, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | James Porter | Submission (kimura) | NAFC: Battle in the Ballroom | September 28, 2013 | 1 | 2:33 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Return to Bantamweight. Won the NAFC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–0 | Dillard Pegg | TKO (punches) | RFA 8 | June 21, 2013 | 1 | 0:51 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Won the inaugural RFA Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Josh Robinson | Decision (unanimous) | NAFC: Battleground | March 29, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Return to Flyweight. |
| Win | 6–0 | Jimmy Jones | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 4 | November 2, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Tom McKenna | Submission (guillotine choke) | LOF 53: Memorium | June 16, 2012 | 1 | 3:52 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 4–0 | Chris Haney | Decision (unanimous) | NAFC: Colosseum | May 4, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Mike Lindquist | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Madtown Throwdown 26: The Return | January 7, 2012 | 1 | 1:43 | Madison, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Tony Zelinski | TKO (head kick) | NAFC: Unleashed | November 18, 2011 | 2 | 1:59 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kyle Vivian | TKO (head kick) | CFC 7 | September 10, 2011 | 1 | 1:46 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |