Anthony Pettis is a well known American MMA (mixed martial artist) fighter going by the nickname „Showtime“.
Early years
He was born on January 27,1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. He and his two brothers, Sergio and Ray ,were raised in a mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican family. His grandfather changed their surname from Perez to Pettis and turned to anglicizm because he wanted to protect his family of discrimination they suffered at that time.
He was into taekwondo and boxing since he was a little boy, and he added wrestling to it when he found out that he is good in any fighting sport he came across.. Their mother was a very hardworking women who made all her three sons to join taekwondo to get stronger and to find something to occupy them so she could be certain they won’t end up ihanging with a bad crowd.
He went to Dominica High School, but there he wasn’t involved in school sports a lot. He wrestled at Alverno College for their wrestling team and that had a huge impact on his body status.When he was only 18 he already had a very high degree of the black belt in taekwondo, especially for his age.
Career development
After finishing school he enrolled the Kenosha Fire Academy and became a firefighter. He was doing this job for 18 months, with success ofcourse, but later decided he will try his luck as a fighter.
Anthony’s proffessional debut came in 2007 and began with one, and ended up with eight victories in a row. In 2009 he joined WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) and soon after that the WEC merged and joined UFC, so he was transferred to Ultimate Fighting Championship and became an UFC fighter overnight, so to speak.
In 2013 he was declared as an MMA Fighter of the Year. In 2016 he moved to the Featherweight weight class and since than he is the best MMA fighter in that class.
His way of fighting is heavily influenced by Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and by Muay Thaui.
Today he is not only a member but a co-owner of Roufusport Center in Milwaukee where he was , and stilll is trained by an MMA famous coach Duke Roufus.
Personal life
He and his brother were very fond of their father although he wasn’t much home, and he often fought with his drug addiction. He tragically died as a victim of homicide in a robbery which took place in their neighbourhood in 2003.
He has a daughter named Aria from a relationship with Alexandra Cartagena but they never got married. He is currently dating Lisette Gadzuric ( born Franco), who is still married to another sportsman, a former NBA player Dan Gadzuric.
Philantropic work
He often participates in charity boxing events, such as for Happy Hearts Fund, where he and his colleague fighters unite for a good cause.
Quick summary
Full name: Anthony Pettis
Date of birth: January 27, 1987
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Profession: MMA fighter
Age: 30
Height: 1,78 m
Weight: 70 kgs
Net worth: $2,5 million
