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‘Finish of the year’: Bellator champ Pettis starches rival with sensational backfist KO (VIDEO)

Sergio Pettis sent MMA fans into meltdown after delivering a stunning spinning backfist finish at Bellator 272 which many considered a KO-of-the-year contender.
In his fourth fight in the promotion since leaving the UFC, Pettis defended the bantamweight title for the first time since winning the strap via a unanimous decision over Juan Archuleta in May.

This time, in the headline bout in Uncasville, the brother of ex-UFC lightweight champion Anthony was far more decisive despite losing “just about every second of the fight” as ESPN described it.

Feeling the pressure in the fourth round of his clash with Kyoji Horiguchi, Pettis turned the tables instantly with a stunning spinning backfist KO that left the Rizin bantamweight ruler, considered one of the world’s best fighters outside the UFC, out cold on the canvas.

        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/sergiopettis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sergiopettis</a> OUTTA NOWHERE! 😱 😱 😱 😱<br><br>What a way to end the 2021 Bellator MMA season LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/SHOsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SHOsports</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bellator272?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bellator272</a> <a href="https://t.co/g8Kstu4E3v">pic.twitter.com/g8Kstu4E3v</a></p>&mdash; BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1466997507058192386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 

Replying to a Bellator post that said the strike came “outta nowhere”, the legendary BJ Penn replied “Congrats, champ” along with a pair of clapping hands. 

“Perhaps this may be 2021’s MMA KO of The Year!!!” suggested one happy fan.

“What the Hell. First time I felt Bellator is better than the UFC,” said another. 

        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Congrats champ! 👏🏼 <a href="https://twitter.com/sergiopettis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sergiopettis</a></p>&mdash; bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/bjpenndotcom/status/1467024309378068484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 


        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Perhaps this may be 2021’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MMA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MMA</a> KO of The Year !!!</p>&mdash; Raul Alzaga (@RaulAlzaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaulAlzaga/status/1466999842639593474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 

Pundit Ariel Helwani agreed and called it “without a doubt one of the best finishes of the year”.

“And when you consider the stakes and how the fight was going it’s even more amazing,” the Canadian added.

Similarly, Chamatkar Sandhu dubbed it “One of the OMG moments of the year!”

Incredibly, some observers claimed Pettis had got “lucky” with the strike – but were soon shouted down.  

        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In a fight where he was losing EVERY minute, Sergio Pettis spinning backfists Kyoji Horiguchi, knocking him out in one shot.<br><br>You have got to be kidding me!!!!</p>&mdash; Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/lthomasnews/status/1466995892427317248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 


        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">INSANE. BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD!!!!!</p>&mdash; Evan Vucci (@evanvucci) <a href="https://twitter.com/evanvucci/status/1466996091384221709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 


        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Definitely not luck .Pettis set the back fist up with that kick. Horiguchi never seen it coming</p>&mdash; DrManhattanPhD (@JUnderverse) <a href="https://twitter.com/JUnderverse/status/1466999635952738304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 

“I came out here and got beat up for four rounds pretty much,” Pettis admitted in a postfight interview.

“I was just like, ‘Man, I’m losing this fight. I’ve gotta do something spectacular.’

“It came out at the right time,” he concluded, on what was just his fourth career KO/TKO.

        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Underrated part is Sergio pulled this coffin nail strike back. <a href="https://t.co/dxauDq4KEY">pic.twitter.com/dxauDq4KEY</a></p>&mdash; RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RJcliffordMMA/status/1467005145183449089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 


        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This result is difficult to accept...<br>But pettis is gentleman. Respect him</p>&mdash; 峰打ち (@jpBushido) <a href="https://twitter.com/jpBushido/status/1467001442410299394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 


        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">last attack nice stop pettis<br>he is gentleman</p>&mdash; サミュエル江藤 (@samueletointer) <a href="https://twitter.com/samueletointer/status/1467001682009944069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 

Just as well-received, however, was Pettis’ refusal to follow through with a coffin nail strike when noticing that a grounded Horiguchi had already had his lights blown out. 

“This result is difficult to accept…,” began a Japanese fan.

“But Pettis is a gentleman. Respect him.”

        <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bellator announces a $1 million bantamweight grand prix in 2022. <br><br>- Magomed Magomedov<br>- James Gallagher<br>- Leandro Higo<br>- Patchy Mix<br>- Rafeon Stots<br>- Juan Archuleta<br>- Sergio Pettis<br>- Kyoji Horiguchi<br><br>Hot damn! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bellator272?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bellator272</a></p>&mdash; Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) <a href="https://twitter.com/shaunalshatti/status/1466971917928128516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote> 

As announced by his employers in the aftermath of their 2021 closer, Pettis will now enter an eight-man bantamweight Grand Prix next year.

With $1 million prize money up for grabs, Horiguchi might also get the chance to exact revenge on him. 
https://ift.tt/2hpq7SJ 04, 2021 at 02:48PM
from RT – Daily news

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