Courtesy of PFL
Anthony Pettis informed via his Twitter profile that he didn’t quit on winning the $1 million prize money offered by the Professional Fighters League each season.
The former UFC lightweight champion will take part in the upcoming 2022 season, which is expected to kick off later this year. Pettis will join the ranks of promotion’s lightweight division, making it his second tenure in PFL.
Showtime joined the league-based organization after completing his contract with the UFC in 2020. By doing so, he became one of the main additions to the roster, next to UFC veteran and former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald.
Pettis took part in PFL’s 2021 season, but he lost both of his fights. In his promotional debut, he lost to Clay Collard by unanimous decision, and in his second fight, he lost by a split decision to eventual lightweight champion, Raush Manfio. Despite those losses, Pettis showed his competitive spirit even going for a near finish against Collard just before the final bell at the end of the third round.
A former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, Pettis made a name for himself in 2010 by capturing his first title by defeating Benson Henderson and executing the famous ‘Showtime Kick’ in the process. Three years later in their second meeting, Pettis once again came out victorious by submitting Henderson via armbar and winning UFC gold. He left the promotion by completing his contract and riding a two-fight winning streak, with two unanimous decision victories over Donald Cerrone and Alex Morono.
Now Showtime is looking to make his way back to the winning column which will lead him to become PFL lightweight champion and $1 million richer.
Professional Fighters League is supposed to kick off 2022 in the late spring, although no dates have not been officially announced yet.
In his career, Pettis also holds victories over Charles Oliveira, Gilbert Melendez, Stephen Thompson, Michael Chiesa, Jeremy Stephens and Jim Miller.
