Sergio Pettis

Sergio Jerome Pettis (born August 18, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently signed with Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion.

Prior to signing with Bellator, Pettis competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought in both the Bantamweight and Flyweight divisions.

As of December 8, 2023, he is #10 in the Bellator men's pound-for-pound rankings and is ranked #2 in the Bellator Bantamweight Rankings.

Pettis was born to Annette (née Garcia) and Eugene Pettis Jr. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Along with his older brother former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis, who competes in the lightweight division, and oldest brother Reynaldo Pettis, he grew up in the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Pettis' mother is of Mexican descent and his father is of Puerto Rican descent.

To escape prejudice, his grandpa Eugenio Pérez anglicised the family name from Pérez to Pettis.

Pettis was a student at Pius XI High School.

Pettis' father was fatally stabbed by a robber on November 12, 2003, at a friend's residence.

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.

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.