Anthony Pettis holds the distinction of having one of the best highlight reels in MMA. The former UFC lightweight champion was known for his athletic prowess and incredible striking skills. But his ‘Showtime’ kick still captivates fans after a decade of him landing it. During his lightweight title fight against Benson Henderson at WEC 53 in 2010, no one could have predicted what unfolded in the cage. Pettis literally ran on the wall of the cage before jumping off and kicking Henderson in the head!

The move won him the round as he secured the WEC lightweight title in the fight. Now, the two men are set to fight again for the 3rd time in their careers. But this time, they will be fighting in a ‘pit’ instead. The ‘trilogy’ fight between the two will take place at ‘Karate Combat 43’. In a recent social media post, Pettis stated that the fight has guaranteed him a large contract along with a chance to end the saga between him and Henderson!

Anthony Pettis set to face another former UFC champion at Karate Combat, claims huge contract 

Karate Combat is looking to end the year with a high-profile card. Former UFC lightweight champions Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson will be headlining the event. The two men have faced off against each other twice in their careers. Their first fight was held under the now-defunct WEC promotion in 2010. Pettis won the fight via unanimous decision. The 2nd bout was at UFC 164 in 2013 where Pettis secured an armbar winning him the fight.

Their proposed trilogy will now take place at Karate Combat 43 in the 170 lbs division. Pettis had his professional boxing debut against Roy Jones Jr. in April 2023, winning by majority decision. His last MMA bout was a unanimous decision loss to Stevie Ray in August 2022 at the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

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In a post on Instagram, Pettis stated that the fight would secure him the “Biggest contract in @karatecombat history”. The exact details of the contract are still unclear. However, fans can watch the event on YouTube as it will be broadcast on the platform live and free of cost.

His opponent, Benson Henderson, will be coming out of retirement for this fight. In his last outing, Henderson was defeated by Bellator lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov finished Henderson in the first round of their fight at Bellator 292.

With the two legends of the sport ready to throw down once more, fans will be excited to see them compete in a different setting than MMA. Pettis whose ‘Showtime Kick’ catapulted him to viral fame, has also stated in the past that he faced difficulties living up to the expectations of his career.

Pettis revealed the pressure of his incredible viral move 

Anthony Pettis, in his prime, was considered one of the biggest stars in the UFC. He was also the first UFC athlete to be featured on a box of ‘Wheaties cereal. But despite solid performances and even a change in weight classes, Pettis was unable to reclaim the heights of his prime.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Pettis revealed the pressures that came with his fame after he landed the ‘Showtime Kick’. He acknowledged that he had tried to rely on flashy moves too much and lost sight of what had made him successful.

He stated, “The crazy thing is that I tried to be that guy too much, where I was forgetting what got me to that ‘Showtime kick’”

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But despite his struggles inside the cage, Pettis has remained a fan favorite throughout his career. His record shows his incredible resilience and the caliber of opponents he has faced. Pettis holds wins over notable names in MMA like Charles Oliveira, Stephen Thompson, and Donald Cerrone, amongst others.

Do you think Anthony Pettis will be looking to land another highlight reel-worthy move in Karate Combat? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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