Pettis was born to Annette (née Garcia) and Eugene Pettis Jr. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Along with his older brother former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis, who competes in the lightweight division, and oldest brother Reynaldo Pettis, he grew up in the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[8]
Pettis' mother is of Mexican descent and his father is of Puerto Rican descent. To escape prejudice, his grandpa Eugenio Pérez anglicised the family name from Pérez to Pettis. Pettis was a student at Pius XI High School.[9][10]
Pettis' father was fatally stabbed by a robber on November 12, 2003, at a friend's residence.[11]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Pettis turned pro on September 10, 2011, against Kyle Vivian at Canadian Fighting Championship 7. He won via TKO in the first round.
On January 7, 2012, Sergio took on Mike Lindquist at Madtown Throwdown 26. He won via submission in round one.
Pettis fought Tom McKenna at LFC 53. He won via first round submission.
Pettis then took on Tony Zelinski at NAFC: Unleashed. He won via second-round TKO.
Pettis took on Chris Haney at NAFC: Colosseum. He won via unanimous decision.
In his next fight, Pettis defeated Jimmy Jones via unanimous decision at RFA 4-Griffin vs Escudero.[12]
Pettis was originally set to face Matt Manzanares at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 7, but Manzanares was forced out of the bout due to injury. RFA could not find another opponent for Sergio, therefore the bout was scrapped. Pettis is now set to face Josh Robinson at NAFC: Battleground.[13] Pettis improved his record to an unblemished 7–0 with the unanimous decision victory.[14]
Resurrection Fighting Alliance announced that Pettis will take on UFC vet Jeff Curran for the inaugural RFA Flyweight Championship at RFA 8 on June 21, 2013, inside the historic The Rave/Eagles Club Milwaukee, Wisc.[15] Curran was forced out of the bout for personal reasons, RFA President Ed Soares reported that Dillard Pegg will take his place and fight Pettis for the flyweight title.[16] He won via KO in the first round to win the RFA flyweight title.[17]
Pettis faced James Porter for the NAFC Bantamweight Championship, at NAFC: Battle in the Ballroom on September 28, 2013.[18][19] Pettis won via first round submission and was subsequently signed by the UFC.[20]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Pettis was expected to make his promotional debut against Vaughan Lee in a bantamweight bout on November 16, 2013, at UFC 167.[21] A week before the fight Lee was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Will Campuzano.[22][23] Pettis won the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second UFC bout, Pettis faced Alex Caceres at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014.[24] He lost the back-and-forth fight via rear-naked choke submission late in the third round. Despite the loss, Pettis won a Fight of the Night bonus award for the bout.[25]
Pettis faced Matt Hobar on December 6, 2014, at UFC 181.[28] He won the fight via unanimous decision. The bout also earned Pettis his second Fight of the Night bonus award.[29]
Pettis faced Ryan Benoit in a flyweight bout on March 14, 2015, at UFC 185.[30] After winning the first round, Pettis was dropped by left hook and finished off with a flurry of ground and pound from Benoit in the second round.[31]
Pettis faced Chris Kelades on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197.[34] Pettis won the fight by unanimous decision. Sergio was dominating most of the exchanges and defending takedowns by attacking the neck. He stunned Moraga many times and arguably won all 3 rounds. Pettis called out Jussier Formiga in his post fight interview.[35]
Pettis was expected to face Louis Smolka on October 1, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 96.[36] However, Pettis pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event citing what his trainer described as "a minor injury" and was replaced by promotional newcomer Brandon Moreno.[37][38]
Pettis was expected to face Jussier Formiga on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103.[39] However, Formiga pulled out of the fight in late December and was replaced by John Moraga.[40] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[41]
Pettis was expected to face Henry Cejudo on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211.[42] However, on May 10, Cejudo pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and the bout was canceled.[43]
Pettis faced Jussier Formiga on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229.[50] He lost the fight via unanimous decision [51] After the fight, Pettis' head coach Duke Roufus announced that Sergio is returning to the bantamweight division.[52]
Pettis faced Rob Font in a bantamweight bout, on December 15, 2018, at UFC on Fox 31.[53] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[54]
Pettis was expected to face Ricardo Ramos on June 29, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 3.[55] However, on June 15, 2019, it was reported that Pettis pulled out of the bout due to injury.[56][57]
Pettis was scheduled to face Alex Perez on September 21, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 17.[58] However, Perez pulled out of the bout on August 26 citing an injury,[59] and he was replaced by Tyson Nam.[60] Pettis won the fight by unanimous decision.[61]
Pettis was scheduled to face Kai Kara-France on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245.[62] Later, news surfaced that Pettis fought out his contract with his previous fight with Nam, and is testing free agency.[63]
Bellator MMA
On October 24, 2019, it was announced that Pettis signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA.[64] Pettis made his promotional debut at Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020, against Alfred Khashakyan.[65] He was victorious via first round technical submission.[66]
Pettis faced Ricky Bandejas on July 24 at Bellator 242.[67] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[68]
For his second title defense and also the first round bout of the $1 million Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament, Pettis was scheduled to face Raufeon Stots on April 23, 2022, at Bellator 279.[73] However Pettis was forced to pull out of the bout and the Grand Prix after sustaining an injury that required surgery.[74]
Pettis faced interim champion Patchy Mix in a title unification bout on November 17, 2023 at Bellator 301.[77] He lost the bout and the belt, being submitted in the second round via rear-naked choke.[78]
Rizin Fighting Federation
Pettis made his MMA debut in Japan on June 9, 2024 as he faced Kyoji Horiguchi in a rematch at RIZIN 47.[79] Pettis lost the bout via unanimous decision.[80]
Personal life
Sergio is the younger brother of Anthony and Rey Pettis. Sergio graduated from Pius XI Catholic High School located in Milwaukee, WI in June 2011.[81] On November 23, 2003, their father, Eugene Pettis, Jr. was stabbed to death by a robber at a friend's house.[82]
