Tag: Anthony Pettis

Reaction to Dana White’s ‘victory lap’ video on pandemic UFC events | Spinning Back Clique

Reaction to Dana White’s video calling out the media, Anthony Pettis’ next move, title changes in 2021 and more were topics on this week’s “Spinning Back Clique” with Simon Head, John Morgan, Mike Bohn and “Gorgeous” George

Reaction to Dana White’s video calling out the media, Anthony Pettis’ next move, title changes in 2021 and more were topics on this week’s “Spinning Back Clique” with Simon Head, John Morgan, Mike Bohn and “Gorgeous” George

Triple Take: Where should Anthony Pettis go after finishing his UFC contract?

Free agent Anthony Pettis said he’s keen to find out “what my worth really is” after finishing his UFC contract, but what’s the best fit?

Former UFC and WEC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] fought out his UFC contract this past Saturday with a unanimous decision win over Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night 183. Afterward, Pettis said he’s keen to find out “what my worth really is.”

There are seemingly several good options for “Showtime,” but what is the best fit for him going forward? MMA Junkie staff members Farah Hannoun, Simon Head and Mike Bohn debate in this edition of “Triple Take.”

UFC Fight Night 183 post-event facts: Anthony Pettis breaks out of post-title funk

Check out all the facts and figures from UFC Fight Night 183, which saw Stephen Thompson beat Geoff Neal in Las Vegas.

The UFC closed out its 2020 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 183, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The 41st and final headliner of the year saw [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] (16-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) put on a classic striking clinic against [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) to secure a unanimous decision victory in the matchup of ranked welterweights.

For more on the numbers behind the card, as well as the rest of the event, check below.

Will Anthony Pettis return to the UFC? ‘Showtime’ won’t rush into decision

Anthony Pettis discusses his fighting future after finishing his UFC contract on an up note.

LAS VEGAS – Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] is a free agent – but he’s not rushing to make a decision on his next move.

Saturday at UFC Fight Night 183, Pettis (24-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) rallied to defeat Alex Morono via unanimous decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28) in what was the final fight of his UFC deal. After his victory, Pettis elected not to make any immediate decisions on his fighting future.

“I don’t know,” Pettis told MMA Junkie at the UFC Fight Night 183 post-fight news conference. “I think that was the risk of taking this fight and not re-signing (a) UFC contract. Usually, I re-sign my UFC contract (with) three fights to go or two fights to go. This time, I’m like, ‘I’m 33 years old. I’ve been in this (game). This is my 11th-and-a-half year with this company, man. I’ve been with this company for a long time.’

“I love this place. I grew up under these lights. They made me who I am, but at this point, I’m just going to take my time, go to Christmas, have my New Year’s and then see what happens at the beginning of 2020 – and see what happens in 2021.”

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Pettis entered UFC Fight Night 183 having lost two of his previous three fights. Despite UFC president Dana White’s recent revelation the promotion will sever ties with approximately 60 members of its roster in the coming weeks, Pettis said he never considered his job at risk.

“Nah, not really,” Pettis said. “If I were to have let that get to my head, then I would’ve fought a different fight out there. … I don’t think my job was at stake. I’ve earned the right to be fighting where I’m at. I can fight with the best of them. I beat the guy in the main event of this card, ‘Wonderboy.’ He’s a great fighter.

“So I just feel like it’s me finding my groove outside the Octagon is what’s going to get me these fights and let me keep going. My goal right now is to get a win streak going. This is my first win streak in a long time.”

UFC Fight Night 183 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streamed on ESPN+.

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UFC Fight Night 183 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2020 total tops $6.5 million

UFC Fight Night 183 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 183 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $170,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 183 took place at UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 183 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $15,000
def. [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $15,000

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Khaos Williams[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $10,000
def. [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]: $20,000
def. [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag]: $10,000

[autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sijara Eubanks[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Antonio Arroyo[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $5,000

[autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Jimmie Flick[/autotag]: $3,500
def. [autotag]Cody Durden[/autotag]: $3,500

[autotag]Christos Giagos[/autotag]: $5,000
def. [autotag]Carlton Minus[/autotag]: $3,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,543,500
2019 total: $7,370,500
2018 total: $6,901,000
2017 total: $6,295,000
2016 total: $7,138,000
2015 total: $3,185,000
Program-to-date total: $37,598,000

UFC Fight Night 183: Anthony Pettis post-fight interview

UFC Fight Night 183: Anthony Pettis post-fight interview

UFC Fight Night 183: Anthony Pettis post-fight interview

UFC Fight Night 183 results: Anthony Pettis rallies to beat Alex Morono, enters free agency on streak

Anthony Pettis will enter free agency on a two-fight winning streak.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] will enter free agency on a two-fight winning streak.

On Saturday at UFC Fight Night 183, Pettis (24-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) rallied to defeat [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag] with a unanimous decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28).

The welterweight bout closed out the UFC Fight Night 183 preliminary card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

The opening round belonged to Morono (18-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who capitalized on an early Pettis slip to control the majority of the round from top position. In Round 2, Pettis opened up, fluidly landing a wide-ranging arsenal of strikes.

The final round consisted of Pettis controlling Morono on the ground before landing some significant strikes on the feet. As the clock wound down, Pettis nearly finished Morono with strikes, but the Fortis MMA product survived.

Pettis, 33, fought the final fight of his UFC deal against Morono. He will enter free agency on a two-fight winning streak, including a win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 249 in May. A former UFC lightweight champion, Pettis has won three of his past five fights.

“It is my last fight on the UFC contract,” Pettis told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “So we’re in negotiations. (I’m) not sure where we’re going from here. My team keeps asking me questions and trying to figure out what’s next, but I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m in such a good spot mentally that I don’t want to fog that vision with what’s next.’ Because if I think about what’s next, I’m not in the present moment.”

Morono reentered the loss column after a win over Rhys McKee in November.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 183 results include:

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Ex-UFC champ Anthony Pettis details plans for own management company, fight promotion

Anthony Pettis has launched his own fight management company and plans to start a regional promotion after UFC Fight Night 183.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] spoke to reporters on Thursday at UFC Fight Night 183 virtual media day.

Pettis (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC), a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, discussed his welterweight matchup with Alex Morono (18-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC), the 10-year anniversary of the “Showtime Kick,” being on the final fight of his UFC contract as well as his plans to start his own MMA management company and fight regional fight promotion in Milwaukee, Wis.

Watch Pettis’ complete interview in the video above.

UFC Fight Night 183 takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streams on ESPN+.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxy5puHCDmY

Anthony Pettis reflects on past, Jose Aldo and superfight that wasn’t before UFC Fight Night 183

Anthony Pettis vs. Jose Aldo was once one of the more tantalizing UFC superfights that never happened, and now they’ll share a card Saturday.

For a while, it was one of the more tantalizing potential UFC super fights: [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag], the lightweight champion in his prime, against [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag], the longtime featherweight king.

Regardless of whether you thought Pettis (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC) should drop a weight class or Aldo (28-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) should go up one, the bout seemed like a dream fight just waiting to be made.

The matchup, however, came along just a little bit too soon for the champ-champ era, so it never happened. Now, both competitors will share a card Saturday at UFC Fight Night 183, and there’s a twist: Aldo, who will meet Marlon Vera, is now a bantamweight, and Pettis, who meets Alex Morono, is competing at welterweight.

Looking back at the fight that could have been, Pettis can’t help but trip a little over where things are now.

“Seeing Jose Aldo go down to ’35, I know how much dedication that takes, man,” Pettis told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I went down to ’45, and that was brutal, bro. That was a hard weight cut. It was a hard process. It’s a life-changing thing. You gotta change your lifestyle. Obviously you know how dedicated that guy is.”

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Pettis also found himself thinking about how he’s changed over the years, from the temperamental competitor who was able to pull off space-age moves in the blink of an eye to a fighter who can still put on exciting bouts, but also is more patient and mature in his approach.

“When I think about my approach to the game back when I was younger, I would try to get angry, and I would use this anger to fight. It would look beautiful. I would try to go in there and submit my guys. But now my mindset is just, fight night’s Saturday, and I have to be present in those 15 minutes, and the emotion I put into between the weigh-ins and focus on all that other stuff, the focus should be on those 15 minutes in the octagon.”

Then and now, Pettis has respect for his fellow former champ and would-be foe.

“We were matched up at 145 pounds, and honestly it didn’t happen for whatever reason,” Pettis said of Aldo. “I respect the guy, man.”

For more from Pettis, watch the video above.

UFC Fight Night 183 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

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Anthony Pettis entering final bout of UFC contract: ‘I’ve been on the chopping block for a long time’

It’s possible Anthony Pettis could be stepping into the octagon for the final time at UFC Fight Night 183.

It’s possible [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] could step into the UFC octagon for the final time on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 183.

Pettis (23-10 MMA, 10-9 UFC), a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, will fight the final bout of his contract when he meets Alex Morono (18-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a welterweight matchup at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Showtime” isn’t tying himself to a specific scenario going forward. However, he confirmed his contract is set to expire, and said there’s nothing firm in place as far as a new deal.

“It is my last fight on the UFC contract,” Pettis told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “Under my current contract. So we’re in negotiations. Not sure where we’re going from here. My team keeps asking me questions and trying to figure out what’s next, but I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m in such a good spot mentally that I don’t want to fog that vision with what’s next.’ Because if I think about what’s next I’m not in the present moment.”

UFC Fight Night 183 will represent Pettis’ 20th UFC appearance dating back to his promotional debut in June 2011. He spent the two-and-a-half previous years fighting for the Zuffa-owned WEC, so his ties to the promotion go back well over a decade.

The possibility of Saturday being his final octagon walk exists. However, Pettis said he’s not letting any of that consume him. He’s got a fight to win, and that’s the priority.

“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “I feel like whatever’s supposed to happen as far as where I’m going next or if I’m fighting in the UFC again or if I can make another title run, my performance on Saturday will dictate that,” Pettis said. “It’s not something I can control. I can’t go in there and meet with guys and say, ‘I’m going to do this.’ My performances are going to dictate what happens next.”

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Although Pettis is doing this best to keep mentally focused on the task at hand, it’s impossible to ignore the reality. UFC president Dana White has confirmed multiple times in recent weeks that the promotion is trimming down on its roster size, and with the likes of Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson already splitting from the company, it’s not impossible to say Pettis could fall into that category.

But that doesn’t put additional pressure on Pettis, he insists. Because, ultimately, if the UFC decides it doesn’t want to do business with him any long, that’s not something within his contract.

“I think that the UFC is a great business,” Pettis said. “I’ve been part of this company for 12 years almost now. I’ve seen every stage of this company and I’ve been on the top of the top when I was getting on Wheaties box and was world champion. I’ve been fighting for my job when I had a three-loss losing streak from Rafael dos Anjos to Eddie Alvarez to Edson Barboza. I’ve been on the chopping block for a long time where if I let that mindset play in, there’s no coming back from that because that’s what you focused on. It’s a blessing for me to have this mindset right now with all the news about cuts and going to different promotions. I don’t feel pressure for that right now.”

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