The younger brother of Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis has made a strong name for himself in the world of MMA – competing in a time where the talent level at 135 pounds in the sport is astronomical. Pettis, a black belt in both jiu-jitsu and Taekwondo, went 5-1 in Bellator, going on to become Bellator Bantamweight World Champion. Pettis, who also earned Knockout of the Year honors across the board in 2021, comes into his PFL debut off back-to-back losses against Patchy Mix and Kyoji Horiguchi.

 

Raufeon Stots is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and also made a name for himself in Bellator, going 8-1 in the promotion while capturing interim Bellator bantamweight gold. Stots, also a former two-time NCAA Division-II champion in wrestling, has won 13 of 14, with wins over the likes of Juan Archuleta, Danny Sabatello, Magomed Magomedov, and Josh Hill. Stots made his PFL debut at the Battle of the Giants event in October, defeating Marcos Breno.

 

Pettis and Stots were once training partners at RoufuSport, and have been great friends. But tonight, friendship can’t stand in the way of trying to walk out of the SmartCage with a W in this highly-anticipated bantamweight showcase!

 

 

Round 1

 

Stots coming out throwing jabs. Low kicks from Pettis. One-two from Stots. One-two from Pettis. Low kick from Pettis. Right hand from Pettis. Pettis with a kick to the body. Low kick from Pettis. Right hand from Pettis is blocked. A high kick from Stots is blocked. Pettis with a one-two that doesn’t connect with everything. Stots flashes a right hand. Stots misses a left hand. A high kick from Pettis is blocked.

 

Spinning back kick from Pettis. Switch kick from Pettis is blocked. Both men throw a right hand. Spinning back kick is blocked this time. Stots misses a left hand. A round kick from Stots is blocked, and Pettis throws a right hand that is blocked. Pettis with a jab. Right hands from Pettis. An exchange from both men. Stots finally shoots in with 40 seconds left in the round and scores the takedown easily. Some shots over the top by Stots. Pettis tries to close the guard to neutralize Stots’ attacks.

 

 

Round 2

 

Pettis throws jabs to start. Spinning backfist lands for Pettis. Stots appears to land a left hand that got Pettis to stumble. Stots takes advantage and scores a takedown, getting back in top control, where he ended the first. Stots landing shots in the closed guard. Pettis is looking to tie Stots up from the bottom. Some left hands from Stots, as he tries to transition away from Pettis’ guard.

 

Stots lands some more left hands. Pettis is not doing a lot to transition, but he’s focused on tying up Stots again. Stots trying to keep an arm down on Pettis and look for the neck, but Pettis defends it well. Stots lands an elbow. Stots doing some work upstairs on the ground. Pettis tries to grab a body triangle. Not a lot of action in this round, especially on the part of Pettis.

 

 

Round 3

 

The two flash jabs to start the round. Pettis misses the right hand. Front kick from Stots. Low kick from Stots and a right overhand from Pettis. Brief cup-check time out. Stots flashing the right hand. Both men are looking for countershots; Pettis lands one. Front kick from Pettis. Round kick by Pettis. Left hand from Stots. Left hand from Stots again. Pettis throws a right. Right hook from Pettis. One-two misses for Stots.

 

Both men land a straight. Left hand from Stots. Combination from Stots. Round kick from Stots doesn’t land fully. Stots misses a right hand. Stots chases after the ankle, but Pettis gets away. One-two from Pettis, followed by a right hook that gets Stots off balance briefly. Low single shot by Stots, but Pettis avoids it. Spinning hook kick by Pettis, but Stots blocks most of it. Right hand by Pettis. And another. Stots scores a takedown with 40 seconds left. Stots pressing Pettis against the fence. The fight ends in that position.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Sergio Pettis def. Raufeon Stots via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)