After UFC 249 win over Cerrone, Anthony Pettis says he’s better now than when he was champ

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Anthony Pettis beat Donald Cerrone with a unanimous decision Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Take a look inside the fight with Pettis, who snapped a two-fight skid and handed Cerrone his fourth straight loss.

Result: Anthony Pettis def. Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Pettis (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC), Cerrone (36-15 MMA, 23-12 UFC)
Key stat: Pettis won in the striking department, 81-62, and landed at a 61 percent clip.

Pettis on the fight’s key moment

“I need to go back and watch this fight because it’s hard to asses without the crowd. When I land stuff, I hear the crowd and know it was a good one. This time, there was no crowd. I saw his head pop, but there was nothing behind it, so it’s hard to tell. It could have gone either way. In my head, that’s what I was thinking. I’m excited that I won and that I get to go back to the gym as a winner and build off of this.”

Pettis on now vs. his title days

“I’m better than I was when I won the belt. I think each part of your career requires a new version of yourself, and I’m finding the version that makes sense. When I was 155, I wasn’t as good – but I didn’t give a (expletive). I still don’t care. ‘Cowboy’ is a beast and I took him on 21 days’ notice – I’ll fight anyone. That’s where I think I’ve been finding my mixed results.”

Pettis on what he wants next

“Me and (head coach) Duke (Roufus) sat down and talked about it: After this fight, let’s figure out what’s our real career path. Where do we want to go, and stick to that – not who’s the next big guy in line, who will give me a title shot. Because that’s what I’ve been doing and we’ve seen what that’s gotten me: mixed results. ”

To hear more from Pettis, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.