One of the top up and coming Flyweights in MMA today is Sergio Pettis. Yes, he is the little brother of UFC superstar Anthony Pettis, but this kid has talent and skill all his own. Watch him fight and you will see that this isn’t a guy living off his last name. He can scrap, he can brawl, and he is scary talented. Pettis took time out of his busy training camp to talk with the guys about his upcoming opponent, being able to fight in his hometown, and the possibility of fighting for the UFC.

An injury to Pettis’s original opponent caused RFA, and his management, to scramble to find a replacement. Getting a suitable replacement on short notice to fight one of the top prospects in the division must have been a difficult search. Fortunately for Pettis, Josh Robinson stepped up. The guys asked Pettis about dealing with changing opponents on short notice.

“It’s a tough sport. We’re training a lot, people get injured really fast it happens a lot. I wasn’t really surprised though when it happened, at first I was upset like I said, but it happens. People get hurt, you gotta deal with it. That’s the thing about this sport it’s like a dice game man, sometimes you get lucky sometimes you don’t. I was upset, but happy I get to fight in front of my hometown crowd again. Now I don’t gotta travel for this fight, I get to stay home in Milwaukee. My family gets to come out and see me kick some ass. I’m so excited.”

With Robinson stepping up the fight was moved from RFA 7, which was to take place in Colorado, to NAFC: Battleground at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, WI; which just so happens to be Pettis’s hometown, and where he currently trains out of Roufusport gym.

“I’m used to fighting at home, I’m used to being around my family and stuff, so I’m going to just be chilling at home, my room is in the basement so I really don’t have to deal with too much with people. I mean my mom still bothers me while I cut weight, she’ll say ‘Your room is a mess’ and I’m already in a bad mood. I’m just like mom please just give me a break for once.”

Family is important in the Pettis family, but you still have to clean your room young buck. His Mom has always been there for both Anthony and Sergio going all the way back to when they first started training martial arts.

“Sometimes I feel bad because when you cut weight you’re moody and she has to deal with some of my mood swings and stuff. I feel like a little girl when I cut weight. She’s been through so many competitions with us. From wrestling to Tae Kwon Do so this is just like another one of those for her, she’s getting used to it. “

Pettis has been dealing with an uphill battle ever since he decided to make fighting his chosen profession. He has to deal with guys wanting to make a name by taking out Pettis. His upcoming opponent has already started talking about how he is going to knock Pettis out. Pettis sees nothing that will stop him from having his arm raised as victorious at the end of the fight.

“From what I see is he’s (Josh Robinson) a striker, he’s going to try and keep it standing which I’m extremely excited for, I don’t mess around, that’s where I stand out. He’s going to try and come, he said he’s going to try and knock me out; I’m not going to let that happen. I mean I’m in my hometown I ain’t going to lose.”

In regards to Robinson predicting that he will KO him, Pettis had this to say:

“I like to keep my reputation. I’m a true martial artist; I’ve been doing this my whole life. I’ve been growing up, how to be respectful, be a good sport about it. Guys obviously have their opinions, I’m the type of guy that you can talk what you want to say, say what you got to say, but once that door closes I’m a whole different person. You’re gonna see a different real me and I’m gonna step up.”

The ultimate goal for any amateur and professional fighter is to make it to the big show: the UFC. Pettis has been there, albeit the back stage, but he has seen it all. He knows what is at stake, he sees his older brother reaping the rewards of being a superstar in the biggest MMA organization in the world.

“I just need to keep winning these fights. As long as you’re winning you’ll get the call sooner or later. The hardest part for me is being patient. I feel like I’m ready to fight the top five at 125. But, people forget I’m only 19-years-old, I’ve got a long road ahead of me. I just got to take my time and just keep winning fights, and enjoy what I’m doing. I love this sport very blessed.”

Pettis was asked what he thought of Rousey and the winner of Tate-Zingano getting the roles of coaching on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.

“I support the whole women MMA thing. I think it’s pretty cool that these girls are getting in there fighting each other, they’re tough man. That fight (Rousey-Carmouche) was amazing. I mean Ronda did her thing. She almost got caught in the beginning, and came out and beat everyone the same way. It was an exciting fight.”

The obvious follow-up question came; would he ever consider going the route of being on The Ultimate Fighter reality series as a way of getting into the UFC?

“Next year I’ll only be 20 still, but I mean I think you have to be 21 to get into the house. But I mean if I were 21 and they wanted me to try out for the flyweights – for sure I would try that. I mean that would test me too, see all these flyweights in the same house, top-notch flyweights and with the division so small. I mean I would definitely try that out if it ever came down to it.”

 “I think it would be cool – a lot of small guys in a big house.”

Very cool indeed, Sergio Pettis is one of the most well-spoken and mature fighters. Most would not believe that he is only 19, at such a young age to be that mature is only going to help him as he goes into the future as a professional fighter.

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