“I came out here and got beaten up for four rounds. When it happened, I was just like, ‘Man I am losing this fight. I’ve got to do something spectacular.’ It came at the right time.”
That’s how Bellator MMA bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis described his mindset moments before he landed a highlight-reel spinning backfist knockout to retain his title against Kyoji Horoguchi in the main event of Bellator 272.
The finishing shot was, as Pettis described, spectacular.
@SergioPettis turns the tide with a spinning back fist KO out of NOWHERE!
The Bantamweight champ retains in spectacular fashion LIVE on @SHOsports. #Bellator272 pic.twitter.com/2KEQPRrlIR
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) December 4, 2021
Horiguchi, the current Rizin bantamweight titleholder, was up three rounds to zero on all judges’ scorecards and Pettis needed a finish to win the fight.
“I needed to face some adversity, and tonight Horiguchi gave me all of that,” Pettis said in a post-fight press release. “It was hard trying to time his rhythm, trying to get his movement down. My coaches always tell me, ‘If you open up, you could be one of the best in the world.’ That what I’m pushing for.”
Pettis, the younger brother of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, is known for his striking ability but this marked his first knockout victory since his eighth pro fight way back in 2013.
Canadian fighters Jeremy and Josh Hill were both victorious in featured main card bouts with Kennedy winning a decision over Emmanuel Sanchez and Hill earning a huge KO of Jared Scoggins.
“(Scoggins) is very traditional, karate-esque,” Hill said. “My coach and I worked on timing quite a bit. I knew the first round might be a little tricky. I landed a punch in the first, but it wasn’t on the money. The one in the second (that ended the fight) was.”
Below are the complete results from Bellator 272, which took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
MAIN CARD
— Sergio Pettis def. Kyoji Horiguchi by knockout
— Jeremy Kennedy def. Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision
— Josh Hill def. Jared Scoggins by knockout
— Johnny Eblen def. Collin Huckbody by technical knockout
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Alexander Shabliy def. Bobby King by unanimous decision
— Kai Kamaka III def. John de Jesus by unanimous decision
— Levan Chokheli def. Vinicius de Jesus by unanimous decision
— Justin Montalvo def. Jacob Bohn by unanimous decision
— Mike Hamel def. Killys Mota by split decision
— Spike Carlyle def. Dan Moret by submission (rear-naked choke)
— Kyle Crutchmer def. Oliver Enkamp by unanimous decision
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