Anthony Pettis reacts following submission loss to Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC 246

UFC lightweight contender Anthony Pettis has reacted following his second-round submission loss to Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC 246.

Pettis was outstruck to lose the first round and in the second Ferreira went to his ground game as he was able to get Pettis to the mat and then finish him with a nasty neck crank. With the loss, Pettis has now suffered his first two-fight losing skid since 2016.

Following the event, Pettis took to his Instagram to reflect on the loss and compliment his opponent Ferreira. Here’s what Pettis wrote.

“The fight Game ! Congrats @diegoufctx”

Pettis was once the UFC lightweight champion, as well as the final WEC lightweight champion, but those days are long gone now. After getting dominated by Nate Diaz and losing a decision to him at UFC 241, Ferreira has now lost two straight fights after Ferreira submitted him at UFC 246. Pettis now has an overall record of 22-10, including an even 9-9 record inside the Octagon.

As for Ferreira, he has quietly been climbing up the UFC lightweight rankings but needed the opportunity to face and beat a ranked opponent before being called a truly elite fighter. Ferreira has now won six straight fights and he is overall 8-2 in the UFC as he has turned himself into a true contender at 155lbs. He has a 17-2 record in mixed martial arts. The win over Pettis should guarantee him another big fight his next time out.

For Pettis, this latest setback is obviously disappointing and could be a true crossroads fight for himself in MMA. Instead of being a top contender in the UFC lightweight division, losing to an unranked opponent like Ferreira, as talented as he is, could be the start of a decline for Pettis.

What do you think is next for Anthony Pettis after his submission loss to Carlos Diego Ferreira at UFC 246?