‘Finish of the year’: Bellator champ Pettis starches rival with sensational backfist KO (VIDEO)
Sergio Pettis sent MMA fans into meltdown after delivering a stunning spinning backfist finish at Bellator 272 which many considered a KO-of-the-year contender.
In his fourth fight in the promotion since leaving the UFC, Pettis defended the bantamweight title for the first time since winning the strap via a unanimous decision over Juan Archuleta in May.
This time, in the headline bout in Uncasville, the brother of ex-UFC lightweight champion Anthony was far more decisive despite losing "just about every second of the fight" as ESPN described it.
Feeling the pressure in the fourth round of his clash with Kyoji Horiguchi, Pettis turned the tables instantly with a stunning spinning backfist KO that left the Rizin bantamweight ruler, considered one of the world's best fighters outside the UFC, out cold on the canvas.
.@sergiopettis OUTTA NOWHERE! 😱 😱 😱 😱
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) December 4, 2021
What a way to end the 2021 Bellator MMA season LIVE on @SHOsports. #Bellator272 pic.twitter.com/g8Kstu4E3v
Replying to a Bellator post that said the strike came "outta nowhere", the legendary BJ Penn replied "Congrats, champ" along with a pair of clapping hands.
"Perhaps this may be 2021’s MMA KO of The Year!!!" suggested one happy fan.
"What the Hell. First time I felt Bellator is better than the UFC," said another.
Congrats champ! 👏🏼 @sergiopettis
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) December 4, 2021
Perhaps this may be 2021’s #MMA KO of The Year !!!
— Raul Alzaga (@RaulAlzaga) December 4, 2021
Pundit Ariel Helwani agreed and called it "without a doubt one of the best finishes of the year".
"And when you consider the stakes and how the fight was going it’s even more amazing," the Canadian added.
Similarly, Chamatkar Sandhu dubbed it "One of the OMG moments of the year!"
Incredibly, some observers claimed Pettis had got "lucky" with the strike – but were soon shouted down.
In a fight where he was losing EVERY minute, Sergio Pettis spinning backfists Kyoji Horiguchi, knocking him out in one shot.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) December 4, 2021
You have got to be kidding me!!!!
INSANE. BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD!!!!!
— Evan Vucci (@evanvucci) December 4, 2021
Definitely not luck .Pettis set the back fist up with that kick. Horiguchi never seen it coming
— DrManhattanPhD (@JUnderverse) December 4, 2021
"I came out here and got beat up for four rounds pretty much," Pettis admitted in a postfight interview.
"I was just like, 'Man, I'm losing this fight. I've gotta do something spectacular.'
"It came out at the right time," he concluded, on what was just his fourth career KO/TKO.
Underrated part is Sergio pulled this coffin nail strike back. pic.twitter.com/dxauDq4KEY
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) December 4, 2021
This result is difficult to accept...
— 峰打ち (@jpBushido) December 4, 2021
But pettis is gentleman. Respect him
last attack nice stop pettis
— サミュエル江藤 (@samueletointer) December 4, 2021
he is gentleman
Just as well-received, however, was Pettis' refusal to follow through with a coffin nail strike when noticing that a grounded Horiguchi had already had his lights blown out.
"This result is difficult to accept...," began a Japanese fan.
"But Pettis is a gentleman. Respect him."
Bellator announces a $1 million bantamweight grand prix in 2022.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) December 4, 2021
- Magomed Magomedov
- James Gallagher
- Leandro Higo
- Patchy Mix
- Rafeon Stots
- Juan Archuleta
- Sergio Pettis
- Kyoji Horiguchi
Hot damn! #Bellator272
As announced by his employers in the aftermath of their 2021 closer, Pettis will now enter an eight-man bantamweight Grand Prix next year.
With $1 million prize money up for grabs, Horiguchi might also get the chance to exact revenge on him.
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December 03, 2021 at 11:18PM
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