On Friday night at Bellator 297, Sergio Pettis showed off his impressive skills and secured the biggest win of his career. He was pitted against Patricio Pitbull, who is often considered one of Bellator’s greatest fighters, but Pettis was able to take him down with a remarkably dominant decision.

Pettis appeared to be in a class of his own, exuding quick hands, precision targeting, and lightning speed over five rounds. He was in control of the fight from beginning to end, as evidenced by the judges’ scores: 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in Pettis’ favor.

In addition to securing his second official defense of the Bellator bantamweight title, Pettis also prevented Pitbull from becoming a three-division champion, which would have been a remarkable accomplishment because Pitbull previously held both the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles.

Pettis sent a strong message to Bellator after his victory: “I’m taking out all your poster boys…I’m your guy’s next star, 100 percent.” Clearly, Pettis is aiming to be a dominant force in Bellator.

Despite his 18-month hiatus, Pettis did not show any signs of rust. He started the fight off strong, using a crisp jab and head kicks to establish his rhythm. Even when Pitbull attempted to take Pettis down early in the fight and succeeded in putting him on the canvas, Pettis quickly got back up. As the fight continued, Pettis grew more confident in his striking abilities, which were on full display when he landed a spinning wheel kick in the second round.

The kick was so forceful that it caused Pitbull to stumble backwards, but Pettis didn’t have enough time to capitalize on the opportunity before the round ended. Still, the kick seemed to rattle Pitbull and was a sign of Pettis’ prowess.

As the fight progressed, Pitbull appeared more aggressive, but Pettis never lost control. He consistently unloaded multiple punches in quick succession, never allowing Pitbull to gain any momentum. Furthermore, Pettis strategically targeted Pitbull’s head and body, making it difficult for Pitbull to anticipate his next move.

Even when Pitbull tried to change things up by transitioning to wrestling, Pettis was able to thwart his attempts and move back to the center of the cage where he could fight more effectively.