Sergio Pettis is headed to Bellator MMA, parting ways with the UFC after testing free agency.
After some widely publicized contract negotiations, Sergio Pettis has opted to part ways with the UFC. Pettis fought out his contract at UFC Mexico City in September, defeating Tyson Nam by unanimous decision. He had been scheduled to face Kai Kara-France in December at UFC 245, but that bout was pulled when news broke that the younger Pettis brother was testing free agency.
Now, it appears his next bout will be with Bellator MMA. On Thursday, ESPN was first to report that Pettis had chosen to sign on with Scott Coker’s promotion. The deal has not been officially announced, and no terms have been reported.
Kara-France has subsequently been re-booked for UFC 245 against Brandon Moreno.
Pettis (18–5) has fought mostly as a flyweight in the UFC, a division Bellator MMA does not currently have for men. However, he has fought at bantamweight as well, and would be an instant player in that division. RIZIN FF star Kyoji Horiguchi currently holds Bellator’s 135lb title.
In 14 fights with the UFC, the Roufusport fighter, brother to former UFC and WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis, picked up a 9-5 record. He holds notable wins over John Moraga and Joseph Benavidez.
Pettis joins the likes of Phil Davis, Rory MacDonald, Valerie Letourneau, Ryan Bader, Cris Cyborg, and others in jumping ship from the UFC to their North American rival.
