
????: Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports
Sergio Pettis makes his Bellator debut this weekend after deciding to part ways with the UFC. He faces Alfred Khashakyan on the main card of Bellator 239.
“The Phenom” (18-5 MMA) looks to get back on a win streak come Saturday night at The Forum. But let it be known, leaving the UFC wasn’t an easy decision.
“I had a lot of goals and a lot of things that I wanted to do in the UFC, but you know what, I’m 26 years old, I left the UFC on a W,” said Pettis. “It’s not like I got cut or anything. It’s just I left out of my decision to leave. There’s good opportunity here in Bellator.”
Although options were on the table, all roads pointed towards working with Scott Coker and the Bellator promotion. And for his debut, Pettis drew a game opponent in Khashakyan (11-4 MMA).
“He’s not as known, but his skill set is good… He’s gonna come out there and try to f*ck me up. so, I’m excited.”
Pettis loves when his opponents come on aggressive. It allows him to bring them into his realm, where he’s best at. Although debuts usually come with nerves and expectations, Sergio is heading into the fight more zen than ever before.
“The most I’ve learned [in MMA], you can’t take it too serious man. Like, this job is already serious,” said Pettis. “So, you gotta have fun. When I have fun, I’m loose, and that’s my style, loose fluid style. So, uh, you know, no more stress, no more expectations. Just go out there and do what I do best.”
See the full interview below on The Scrap’s YouTube channel.