It seems that former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and the UFC are going their separate ways.
"Showtime" posted the following message on Twitter, announcing his departure from the promotion.
After 12 years I’ve decided to part ways with the UFC to explore free agency.
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 23, 2020
He then penned the following note to the promotion, thanking UFC President Dana White, among other promotion current and former executives:
Thank you @ufc @danawhite ------ pic.twitter.com/pJtBo2Hpxc
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 23, 2020
Pettis (24-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) joined the UFC in 2010 after the promotion purchased the now-defunct WEC, where he was their final lightweight champion.
He would begin his UFC-career with a unanimous decision loss against lightweight mainstay Clay Guida before going on a five-fight win streak and capturing the UFC lightweight title against Benson Henderson via first-round submission at UFC 164 in August 2013. Pettis would go on to defend his lightweight title just once against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 via second-round submission before dropping his title and a unanimous decision against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185.
He last competed at UFC Vegas 17 where he defeated Alex Morono via unanimous decision at the promotion's final event of 2020, ending an decade-long tenure with the company.
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