Sergio Pettis rejected Patricio Freire’s bid at history on Friday when he defended his bantamweight belt in the Bellator 297 co-headliner.
Pettis (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) returned from an 18-month hiatus due to injury and registered his first title defense courtesy of a lopsided victory over Freire (35-6 MMA, 22-6 BMMA), who was unsuccessful in his attempt to capture a third Bellator belt at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Pettis’ victory over Freire at Bellator 297.
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Bellator
𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗖𝗬 ⚔️
Bantamweight champ Sergio Pettis faces off against #P4P king Patricio Pitbull LIVE from the @WintrustArena 👊#Bellator297 LIVE NOW on @SHOsports 🇺🇸
🌍 Find out how to watch ▶️ https://t.co/jPjMHzLhCd pic.twitter.com/uoJjrg37BX— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
MMA Junkie
🏆 Champ vs. Champ 🏆
Patricio Freire looks to capture a Bellator title in a third weight class. His fight vs. Sergio Pettis is up next! 🇧🇷
Live results: https://t.co/OOmQIk0rN1 pic.twitter.com/3k6SCym4GG
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 17, 2023
Damon Martin
Patricio Pitbull out to barking dogs and the Brazilian national anthem
Sergio Pettis to "All My Life" by SuwagLoui #Bellator297
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) June 17, 2023
Bellator
The first big move of the fight! 👀
A takedown from @PatricioPitbull against the champion.#Bellator297 LIVE NOW:
🇺🇸 @SHOsports / 🇧🇷 @combate
🌍 Find out how to watch ▶️ https://t.co/jPjMHzLhCd pic.twitter.com/5IAkb59Nac— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
RJ Clifford
Sergio Pettit has the most underrated fight IQ in MMA. He is never in trouble.
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) June 17, 2023
Juan Archuleta
Good first round I don’t know who got that? Pettis or pitbull? #Bellator297
— Juan Archuleta (@jarchmma) June 17, 2023
Luke Thomas
Close round, but Pitbull did the better work. Takedown wasn't much, but the right hands by Pitbull along with the leg kicks probably the difference maker.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) June 17, 2023
Jed I Goodman
#Bellator297 pic.twitter.com/Mvu6K0LQUM
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) June 17, 2023
Bellator
The champ @sergiopettis lands a slick combo! 👊#Bellator297 LIVE NOW:
🇺🇸 @SHOsports / 🇧🇷 @combate
🌍 Find out how to watch ▶️ https://t.co/jPjMHzLhCd pic.twitter.com/3XJTqMUApY— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
Juan Archuleta
Man @BellatorMMA should give the champs an option to fight in Gold gloves like Sergio’s shorts 👍 #Bellator297
— Juan Archuleta (@jarchmma) June 17, 2023
Nolan King
Holy shit. Sergio Pettis just wobbled Patricio Freire with a spinning wheel kick. #Bellator297
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) June 17, 2023
Caposa
OH SHIT. The spinning wheel kick lands and Pitbull is fucked up
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 17, 2023
Fight Ghost
Sad to see this version of Pitbull. Weight cut just too much. Pettis close to finishing him in the second. Let us see what happens next. #Bellator297
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) June 17, 2023
Bellator
👀 @sergiopettis hurts @PatricioPitbull with the spinning wheel kick! #Bellator297 LIVE NOW:
🇺🇸 @SHOsports / 🇧🇷 @combate
🌍 Find out how to watch ▶️ https://t.co/jPjMHzLhCd pic.twitter.com/bqRiA0feWc— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
Josh Gross
B/c MMA scoring isn't sufficient, I have it 19-19. Pettis R2 was much better than Pitbull's R1, but it was still 10-9 even though Pitbull got stunned and cut. Pettis will grow into this fight, I think, and land plenty.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) June 17, 2023
Juan Archuleta
Pettis looking so smooth out there #Bellator297
— Juan Archuleta (@jarchmma) June 17, 2023
Bellator
The champion coming into his element. 💥@sergiopettis lands a well-timed combo on @PatricioPitbull.#Bellator297 LIVE NOW:
🇺🇸 @SHOsports / 🇧🇷 @combate
🌍 Find out how to watch ▶️ https://t.co/jPjMHzLhCd pic.twitter.com/9W9rfei0bl— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
Bruno Massami
2-1 Pettis. Great striking skills of Sergio. A Chess High Level Match in Bellator now. #Bellator297
— Bruno Massami (Бруно Массами) (@BrMassami) June 17, 2023
Nick Baldwin
Pettis' speed has been a huge difference-maker through three rounds. Gotta remember that this is a former 125er versus a guy who fought at 155 not many years ago. 29-28 Pettis.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) June 17, 2023
Luke Thomas
Still hard to say, but in addition to Pettis's speed being an issue, it's not clear Pitbull's power is holding at this weight class.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) June 17, 2023
Mookie Alexander
Barring a miracle this is Sergio's W coming.
Him and Patchy Mix is going to be insanity.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) June 17, 2023
Sean Sheehan
3-1 Pettis. Very little scoring work in the 4th, those two late kicks probably sealed it for SP. #bellator297
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) June 17, 2023
Bellator
Switch kick followed by a front kick. Is @sergiopettis getting closer to a finish? 😳 #Bellator297 LIVE NOW:
🇺🇸 @SHOsports / 🇧🇷 @combate
🌍 Find out how to watch ▶️ https://t.co/jPjMHzLhCd pic.twitter.com/Bq79i7e8Tu— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
Cris Cyborg
If you’re not watching @BellatorMMA on @SHOsports right now get to a TV!!! https://t.co/bDLUAihl0c
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) June 17, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
Sergio Pettis appears to have closed the door on Patricio Pitbull's attempt at making history.
Pettis looked sharp as ever despite the long injury layoff.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 17, 2023
Esther Lin
Wowwwww out 18months and Pettis’ wrestling looked just as 🪒razor sharp as Pettis’ striking. #Bellator297
— esther lin (@allelbows) June 17, 2023
Caposa
Sergio is gonna take this. The speed was too much. Patricio's power did not seem to carry down to 135 and he just seemed a too gun-shy in those middle rounds. Great name on the resume for Pettis.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 17, 2023
MMA Junkie
#Bellator297 results: Sergio Pettis (@SergioPettis) def. Patricio Freire via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) – to defend bantamweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/n0lDxlfZ3A pic.twitter.com/EpqtRxJiOF
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 17, 2023
Ariel Helwani
Big-time performance from Sergio Pettis, especially considering the serious knee injury he had to overcome.
Pettis x Mix will be great.
Pitbull’s attempt at making history falls short.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 17, 2023
Jeremy Kennedy
See you soon @PatricioPitbull @BellatorMMA https://t.co/tdiKt3HnlN
— Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) June 17, 2023
Caposa
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 17, 2023
Bellator
This fight is going to be INSANE! 🔥
Early predictions for @sergiopettis vs. @TeamMixMMA? 👀#Bellator297 | LIVE NOW | @SHOsports 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/2jdmE3F9Hv
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) June 17, 2023
