CAREER NOTES

Sergio Pettis stands as the top-ranked bantamweight in the Professional Fighters League, a distinction earned through dominant performances against elite competition. Known as "The Phenom," the Milwaukee, Wisconsin native carries the technical precision of a lifelong martial artist and the competitive pedigree of one of combat sports' most recognizable families. He is the younger brother of former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis, though his own accomplishments have long outgrown that comparison. On the PFL bantamweight roster,  Sergio places himself in a league of his own in the division.

Pettis began training in taekwondo at age five in Milwaukee before eventually joining renowned coach Duke Roufus at Roufusport MMA Academy. He earned black belts in taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, building a technical foundation that translates into the cage. After compiling an undefeated amateur run, Pettis turned professional and earned early regional titles before joining the UFC in 2013, where he competed for several years and earned multiple Fight of the Night bonuses. His path to PFL ran through Bellator, where he captured the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship. His fighting style centers on timing, range management, and a striking arsenal that rotates between conventional combinations and spinning techniques without telegraphing the shift. He is equally dangerous with straight punches at range and unorthodox spinning attacks when opponents close distance.

The most decorated stretch of Pettis's career came during his Bellator run, where he won the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Juan Archuleta and made two successful defenses. His first defense produced one of the most dramatic finishes in Bellator history, a spinning backfist knockout of former Rizin champion Kyoji Horiguchi in round four that earned near-universal KO of the Year recognition. After joining PFL, Pettis reasserted his elite status with a unanimous decision over former Bellator champion Raufeon Stots, then delivered another highlight when he landed a spinning back elbow against Magomed Magomedov at PFL Champions Series 3 in October 2025. That finish again earned KO of the Year.