Sergio Pettis: I am going to prove myself against Yaotzin Meza

Sergio Pettis is in Brazil for a week of training with renowned jiu-jitsu coaches Daniel and Diego Moraes, where he managed to find the…

By: Karim Zidan | 10 years ago
Sergio Pettis: I am going to prove myself against Yaotzin Meza
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Sergio Pettis is in Brazil for a week of training with renowned jiu-jitsu coaches Daniel and Diego Moraes, where he managed to find the time to speak with the Brazilian media regarding his preparation for his upcoming fight against Yaotzin Meza in June, as well as the influence of his brother, UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

The 20-year old lost his second UFC fight back at UFC on Fox 10, where he was caught in a third round rear-naked choke by Alex Caceres in the evening’s ‘Fight of the Night.’ While Pettis was disappointed with the loss on his record, he was generally satisfied with his performance, adding that it was a mistake in the third round that cost him the match.

“It was the first loss of my career.” Sergio told the media at a press conference with his brother. “A lot of people lose; Anderson lost, GSP lost, Anthony [Pettis] lost. It is part of being in the sport. It is very tough to lose. I did not want to lose that fight. I fought very well; the last minute of the fight I made a little mistake in the takedown and got submitted.”

With a record of 1-1 inside the octagon, and with the experience gained from his first professional loss, Pettis is looking to make a point at UFC Fight Night 42.

“It taught me a lot and the next fight for sure I am going to prove myself”

Sergio also discussed the influence his older brother has had on his career so far, emphasizing what a “blessing” it is to train with a champion on a regular basis.

“Anthony is my role model. He has taught me a lot in this sport. He taught me mostly to just take my time with it. I am still young – only 20 years old. I’ve got a lot to learn, and having him in my corner and in my life is for sure a blessing. He is a champion; I am the younger brother of a champion and I am going to try and follow in his role.”

UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov takes place June 7 at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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About the author
Karim Zidan
Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan is a investigative reporter and feature writer focusing on the intersection of sports and politics. He has written for BloodyElbow since 2014 and has served as an associate editor since 2016. He also writes for The New York Times and The Guardian. Karim has been invited to speak about his work at numerous universities, including Princeton, and was a panelist at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival and the Oslo Freedom Forum. He also participated in the United Nations counter-terrorism conference in 2021. His reporting on Ramzan Kadyrov’s involvement in MMA, much of which was done for Bloody Elbow, has led to numerous award nominations, and was the basis of an award-winning HBO Real Sports documentary.

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