CHICAGO – To the outside observer, it appeared smooth cruising for Sergio Pettis when he protected his title Friday at Bellator 297.
During the lead-up to his primary occasion bout at Winstar Arena, it appeared all eyes and most headings were on Pettis’ challenger Patricio Freire, inspiteof being title opposition. The spotlight wasn’t as much on the champ as it usually is.
Even Pettis (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) confesses that he might haveactually offered in to doubt a little bit, though it’s not always irregular for him pre-fight.
“I ain’t going to lie,” Pettis informed MMA Junkie and other pressreporters. “I was informing my lady like, ‘Hey, if I lose to anyone, it’s OKAY to lose to Patricio ‘Pitbull.’ He’s a legend. I didn’t believe I was going to lose, I simply had fights in my mind. I was worried, frightened, all of the above. Eighteen months off from completing, so I kind of forgot how all this felt. It’s the opposite of Nate Diaz. I am shocked, motherf*ckers.”
Pettis, 29, opened up in pre-fight interviews per