INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Sergio Pettis might be considered a veteran at this point, but he’s still experiencing new things in his MMA career.
The 26-year-old Milwaukee native, who’s been fighting professionally for close to a decade, made his Bellator debut on Saturday night after leaving the UFC late last year. Pettis (19-5 MMA, 1-0 Bellator) scored a technical submission win over Alfred Khashakyan on the main card of Bellator 238 at The Forum.
Despite having many fights under his belt, Pettis felt the pressure of expectations that come with switching organizations.
“Honestly, it was stressful,” Pettis told reporters in his post-fight scrum, which MMA Junkie attended. “I was trying to keep it cool the whole time, but I was stressed the hell out, (explicit) nervous, very nervous, whole new setting.
“Even the whole walkout was different. I’m used to having my corner in the back talking me up, and they left to the cage, and I was like, ‘Damn, I’m by myself right now.’ This is so different, but it was fun. It was a cool night, man. I’m very happy.”
Pettis competed for the UFC from 2013 to 2019. He compiled a record of 9-5 competing at flyweight and bantamweight there. The change from UFC to Bellator marks Pettis’ first switch of major organizations.
Despite it being so stressful, Pettis still sees the experience as a positive.
“It was definitely a lot different than what I was used to,” Pettis said. “I was in the UFC for six years, so things were ran different. Things were a little different, but it was good. Everybody was cool here, everybody was very welcoming and very nice to me, so big shout out to Bellator. Thank you, guys.”
Apart from the obvious change of employers, Pettis; performance on Saturday was notable for other reasons. The Roufusport product got his first finish in seven years.
“I got a highlight, finally,” Pettis said. “It’s been a while. My first finish in, (explicit), 12 fights, so it’s definitely humbling.
“Those fights are fun. I prefer those fights. I think it brings out the better me, having someone trying to hurt me and knock me out makes me, I don’t know, something just came out of me tonight. It was different.”
After leaving UFC for Bellator, Sergio Pettis admits he was 'stressed the hell out' for debut