Bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis is happy to continue getting tested at Bellator.
Pettis (22-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA) defends his title against featherweight champ Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA), who will attempt to win a title in a third weight class in the co-main event of Bellator 297 on June 16 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Freire widely is considered the greatest Bellator fighter in history. Pettis has fought top-level competition throughout his UFC and Bellator career, and sees the addition of “Pitbull” to his resume as very valuable.
“If I beat Patricio and be able to stop him from being a three-time world champ, it’ll be great for my career and my resume,” Pettis told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m here to fight some of the best in the world, and my last couple of fights for Bellator, you’re seeing it.
“I’m fighting guys who have really great records. I fought Juan Archuleta when he was 25-2. I fought (Kyoji) Horiguchi when he was 29-3. Now I’m fighting Patricio ‘Pitbull,’ 35-5. So they’ve got me over here at death row, definitely, at Bellator. They’re putting me with the big boys and I’m showing that I can hang – and I can bang too.”
Pettis rallied to knock out Horiguchi in his most recent outing to notch his first title defense. A torn ACL kept him out of the recent bantamweight grand prix, but he’s eager to pick up where he left off and try to play spoiler once again vs. Freire.
“It puts a chip on my shoulder,” Pettis said. “He’s thinking that he can come through and come down to 135 and walk through me and get what I have, which is the belt. To go out there and spoil that moment for him would be a great moment for my career.
“Just based off of the scenario, coming off an ACL injury, I know these guys are looking past me and thinking I’m going to come back and not be the same fighter. They’re right: I’m not going to be the same fighter. I’m different. I’ve learned so much last year.”
Freire will be dropping to 135 pounds for the first time in his career. Having competed at flyweight and bantamweight, Pettis knows how taxing the cut down can be and questions how it will impact Freire.
“It’s definitely interesting,” Pettis said. “I fought at 125, so I know the difference of how I felt at 135 to 125. That extra 10 pounds makes a hell of a difference. He’s getting older. I did it at a younger age – he’s older – so we’ll see how his body adjusts. We’ll see if he’s as durable.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.