Anthony “Showtime” Pettis announced via social media that he was going to explore free agency options ending his 12 years with the WEC and Zuffa.
10 years to the month that Pettis showed up on the scene with the “Showtime” kick of Benson Henderson on the very last World Extreme Cagefighting show of the promotion, Pettis won a unanimous decision victory over Alex Morono on the UFC Fight Night Prelims this past Saturday. It was the last fight on his contract.
After 12 years I’ve decided to part ways with the UFC to explore free agency.
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 23, 2020
Pettis posted an 11-9 record in the UFC. Despite the mediocre record, he was one of the more entertaining fighters in any division he competed. Pettis won the lightweight title from Henderson in 2015. He fought in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions while with the company.
Payout Perspective:
One has to believe that Bellator is high on the list of organizations that he may seek out. His brother, Sergio, is currently on the Bellator roster. With the UFC cutting fighters, it was clear that someone like Pettis would probably not be in the company’s future. While a great asset to any card, he was making six figures and was in the middle of a division that he was likely several fights away from a title shot. With the cost-cutting the company is set on doing, he was someone that was likely to have
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