With Bellator’s addition of the flyweight division, Sergio Pettis isn’t ruling out the possibility of a return to 125 pounds.
Pettis (22-5 MMA, 9-5 BMMA), the current Bellator bantamweight champion, defends his title against featherweight champ Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) in the co-main event of Bellator 297 on June 16 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Bellator will crown an inaugural flyweight champion when Kyoji Horiguichi (31-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) takes on Makoto Takahashi (16-1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) at Bellator x Rizin 2 on July 30 at Saitama Super Arena.
Pettis had a solid flyweight run in the UFC, scoring wins over former multiple-time title challenger Joseph Benavidez and current 125-pound champ Brandon Moreno. While the drop back down would be hard for Pettis, he’d consider it if a big opportunity presented itself.
“Definitely something I’m interested in,” Pettis told MMA Junkie Radio. “Obviously to have that champ-champ status, but man, that cut to 125 is not fun for anybody. The older I’m getting, I’m like, ‘Man, I don’t know if I really see myself going back down.’ If it made sense and the opportunity presented itself, the competitor in me and the ego in me would be like definitely could make it. But how I feel at 135 is a lot different than how I feel at 125.”
“Pitbull,” a former lightweight champion and current featherweight title holder, will attempt to win a belt in a third weight class when he makes his 135-pound debut against Pettis. As someone who’s competed in two different weight classes, Pettis thinks the extra 10 pounds to cut will likely 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.
