Milwaukee Mayor Honors Pettis

UFC® LIGHTWEIGHT STAR ANTHONY PETTIS TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION FROM CITY OF MILWAUKEE TOMORROW

‘SHOWTIME’ HONORED FOR WINNING WEC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
AND COMMITMENT TO HIS HOMETOWN

Pettis to Receive Official Proclamation Tomorrow, Jan. 13, at 3:45 p.m. CT

Las Vegas, NV– It was a whirlwind year for UFC® lightweight star Anthony Pettis in 2010. Unbeaten in four fights last year, Pettis added the WEC® lightweight title to his resume, as well as a nationally-televised appearance on MTV’s hit show “World of Jenks.”

Those accomplishments, plus his work in the community, have earned the 23-year-old an official proclamation from his hometown of the city of Milwaukee, Wisc. Pettis will receive the proclamation during a meeting with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 3:45pm CT at the Mayor’s Office.

Pettis, whose “Showtime” kick landed against Ben Henderson on Dec. 16 was named one of the top 10 plays of the year by ESPN’s SportsCenter, expressed his sincere gratitude to Mayor Barrett and the city of Milwaukee for such an honor.

“This is an amazing feeling,” Pettis said. “It’s been a crazy year. I’ve won a world title, been featured on MTV and SportsCenter and threw out the first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewers game. I never imagined myself being in this position. I’m really thankful that Mayor Tom Barrett and the city of Milwaukee have chosen to honor me. Milwaukee means so much to me and I’m proud to represent it every time I compete.”

WHO:
•    ANTHONY PETTIS, UFC lightweight contender, WEC Lightweight Champion
•    TOM BARRETT, Mayor of Milwaukee
WHAT:          Pettis to receive official proclamation from City of Milwaukee

WHEN:          Thursday, Jan. 13 at 3:45 p.m. CT

WHERE:       Office of Mayor Tom Barrett
200 E. Wells Street
City Hall Rm.201
Milwaukee, WI 53202

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Trainer Explains Why Pettis Won’t Wait on Title Shot

Anthony Pettis (right) | Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Anthony Pettis will not wait on the conclusion of the Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard trilogy before fighting again.

Pettis’ trainer, Duke Roufus, confirmed the news Monday on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show.

Pettis had earned a UFC lightweight title shot by winning the WEC lightweight belt. However, when Edgar’s Jan. 1 defense against Maynard ended as a closely contested draw, UFC President Dana White announced that the two will fight again.

In the meantime, Pettis will take another bout.

“It sucks that he’s not fighting for the title, but at the same time, he’ll be fighting one of the toughest guys in the UFC lightweight division and that’s awesome,” said Roufus, who could not yet name potential opponents being discussed with the UFC.

Roufus and Pettis had met over lunch to discuss whether he should wait or fight again. One drawback of fighting is that Pettis could lose and cost himself a title shot.

“He’s a fighter; he wants to continue fighting,” Roufus said. “He’s got a lot of momentum in the sport. He said he’s got 10 other [highlight-reel] kicks and moves for the UFC and he’s going to prove it. The one thing he wants to do is fight.”

Roufus was at home the night of UFC 125 when he learned via the Internet that Edgar and Maynard would be fighting again. He said an “outburst” followed that woke up his family, but then he calmed down.

“Does it suck? Yeah, but I like the fact that Dana’s doing the right thing for the fighters,” Roufus said. “Anthony’s on the short end of the stick and feeling the letdown of not having a fight, but I like the fact that Dana’s putting it out there that he wants a rematch and a definitive champion. It’s good for all the fighters.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 5:43) with Roufus, who also discussed Pat Barry’s mindset heading into his upcoming bout.

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Pettis To Sit Cageside For Title Fight

“That particular kick comes from my traditional martial arts background. That just came off the top of my head. I wasn’t planning on throwing that kick (against Henderson). That was instinctive." Being famous for an astonishing, almost fantasyland kick is nice, and when Anthony Pettis’ career is over someday, that may be what many people best remember him for. But that’s not how the 23-year-old phenom wants to be defined.

Already in possession of a WEC belt, the Milwaukee native now covets the UFC title and the legacy and prosperity that would come with it. Pettis’ rapid ascent toward the top of the 155-pound division has earned him the right to sit cageside for Saturday night’s main event between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and No. 1 challenger Gray Maynard. Asked to predict a winner, the flamboyant fighter (fittingly nicknamed “Showtime”) was understandably somewhat wishy-washy. But under pressure to make a pick he squeezed out a half-hearted prognostication.

“I’m going to go with Gray Maynard,” said Pettis, 13-1. “If he can get him down and bully him like he did the first fight then I think Gray Maynard can take the fight. But Frankie has some momentum behind him.”

That was Pettis commenting on the same night earlier this month when he dethroned Benson Henderson for the WEC crown. More than a week later, however, Pettis was back on the fence.

“I don’t know, this fight is hard to call,” he said. “Frankie Edgar against BJ Penn, he looked like a whole new Frankie Edgar. But Gray Maynard is a huge 155er who just imposes his will. His nickname (“The Bully”) fits him well. Either guy I fight will be a tough fight. I’m just getting ready for another wrestler.

“A lot of people say I would match up better with Edgar. I mean, I think it would be a higher-paced fight. But they are the champion and the No. 1 contender so I’ve got my work cut out for me with either guy.”

Pettis hopes to achieve bigger and better things in 2011, but the rising star will be hard pressed to outdo the massive good fortune that engulfed him in 2010. Few fighters experienced a more banner year, as he racked up a 4-0 record, gained national exposure courtesy of being featured on MTV’s “World of Jenks,” and won a world title with arguably the most clutch – and most spectacular - flying kick  that MMA fans have ever seen. I must confess that I can replay Pettis’ running, off-the-cage kick against Benson Henderson over and over and over again, without it ever diminishing my sense of marvel. I’ve replayed and studied the maneuver more than any other I’ve witnessed in the cage, and judging from a YouTube video of the maneuver, there are millions more who feel the same way I do.

“That particular kick comes from my traditional martial arts background,” said Pettis, who at the behest of his late father began studying Tae Kwon Do at 7 years old. “That just came off the top of my head. I wasn’t planning on throwing that kick (against Henderson). That was instinctive, man. We didn’t practice that before the fight, it was just one of those things.”

Pettis said that when he went back to his corner at the conclusion of the fourth round, he mistakenly thought he had just finished the third round. So, headed into the fifth and final round – with the fight up for grabs – head coach Duke Roufus set his fighter straight: This is it, kid. Last round.

“S---! I got to get after it,” Pettis thought to himself. “My dream is five minutes away. I gotta get after it and make it happen.’”

With less than 90 seconds left, and Pettis arguably losing the fifth and decisive round, he charged forward, went airborne, bounced off the cage on one leg! … and unleashed the mother of all high kicks. And actually landed it flush across Henderson’s face.

“It was a title fight and there was a lot at stake and that’s one of those kicks where you can get yourself in trouble if you miss,” he said. “It was a clutch kick that just happened at the right time.”

It was a kick that has caused Pettis’ popularity to skyrocket, a kick so wondrous that reporters and fans are still trying to figure out what in the heck to call it. Some have stayed simple, dubbing it a “superkick.” Others have called it a “Matrix” kick. I like to call it the “Holy S&$%# Kick,” since I literally and instinctively started writing expletives on my computer screen while writing about the fight live from Glendale, Ariz., earlier this month. Holy (expletive of your choice) is the first thing that jumped into my mind, and I’m one of those guys who tends to think that our first reaction to a situation is usually the right one.

In the days following his sweetest victory, Pettis would soon learn that while he hasn’t changed much, other people’s reaction to his presence has. He returned to Milwaukee even more recognizable and beloved than before. His cell phone answering machine was overwhelmed with messages, and flooded with hundreds of text messages.

After fighting five times in the past 12 months, Pettis took a well-deserved break, booking a four-day cruise to the Bahamas.

“It was my first time there,” he said. “It was crazy, all the workers and a lot of other people in recognized me in the Bahamas. They said, “You’re the guy that did the kick off the cage …” It was crazy. I didn’t even know they watched WEC over there. When I went through Customs they were trying to take pictures with me.”

Roufus calls his prized protégé a “Latin GSP,” comparing Pettis to current UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in athleticism, work ethic and determination. Indeed, Pettis has come so far, so fast. By now, Pettis’ humble beginnings have been well-documented, and oft-reported, but bears repeating because it showcases the true grit and glory of Pettis’ struggle to the top. For most of his life, he had been dealt a rather paltry hand. The product of a seedy, drug- and crime-infested neighborhood in the south side of Milwaukee, Pettis can never completely forget the violence of that place because those mean streets claimed the life of his father. Eugene Pettis, a janitor who worked two jobs so his kids could attend Catholic schools, was murdered on Nov. 12, 2003. He was 46.

Pettis, half-Puerto Rican and half-Mexican, is motivated by his father’s memory. In the days leading up to a fight, and even during his walk to the cage, he sports a hooded sweatshirt with his father’s image. Pettis said he won the WEC title not just for himself, but for his father.

“It’s a dream come true,” Pettis said. “My dad was with me all throughout my martial arts career. When he died I stopped doing martial arts for awhile. But then I found mixed martial arts. Duke Roufus and Pat Barry, these guys brought me in and were like family to me. It’s something (my father’s death), that I carry with me into every fight. My dad gives me my competitive edge and I bring him on my hoodie to every fight. I feel close to him doing this. Getting this belt is the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to go to his grave and show him that.”

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Memorable Kick Crowns Pettis at WEC 53

Anthony Pettis had the guts to throw a kick for the ages in what can only be described as a leap of faith.

In the closing minute of a memorable five-round affair, with the outcome still very much in doubt, Pettis ran up the side of the cage, sprang forward in one fluid motion and delivered a clean kick to the head of WEC lightweight king Benson Henderson. The blow dropped the champion flat, and though it did not finish the fight, it paved the way to a unanimous decision for Pettis in the WEC 53 headliner on Thursday at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

All three judges scored it for Pettis, 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46, who will meet the winner of the upcoming UFC 125 matchup between champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard in a unification bout sometime in 2011.

Afterward, with many jaw still ajar, talked turned to the Pettis kick. The new titleholder credited his longtime trainer, former world kickboxing champion Duke Roufus.

“We practice that all the time,” Pettis said. “I’ve got 10 more of those kicks coming when I get to the UFC. How do you like that to end the WEC?”

A seesaw affair brought forth one momentum shift after another, some subtle, some dramatic. Henderson moved in front early, as he scored with a pair of first-round takedowns. Pettis answered in round two and made his move in the third, as he secured a takedown of his own. Henderson surrendered his back and successfully defended the rear-naked choke, ultimately returning to a standing position -- with Pettis still firmly attached. In fact, the challenger spent much of the round riding Henderson, supplying punches to the head and body in a clear attempt to soften him for the choke. His efforts went unrewarded.

“I just couldn't get my tempo going,” Pettis said. “I got it going in the third round. It felt good. Ben Henderson is a tough dude.”

Round four was a barnburner. Henderson fought off an attempted guillotine choke and transitioned to Pettis’ back during a wild scramble. In an instant, Pettis found himself trapped in body triangle with Henderson snaking his arms around his neck. The submission seemed almost inevitable, but the Milwaukee-based tae kwon do black belt escaped and reached round five in a dead heat with the defending titleholder.

There, they traded barbs, Pettis with a nice counter straight right, Henderson with a double-leg takedown. The fight was there for the taking, and in the final minute, Pettis took it. His kick sent a dazed Henderson to the canvas, where a series of hammerfists from Pettis sealed his fate on the scorecards.

“Pettis did a good job,” said Henderson, who entered the cage on a 10-fight winning streak. “The judges gave it to him. He did a good job.”

Cruz (pictured) dominated Jorgensen.

Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz unleashed a vast array of strikes from various angles, bobbed, weaved and mixed in takedowns, as he defeated the world-ranked Scott Jorgensen by unanimous decision in the co-main event. Scores were 50-45 across the board for Cruz, who will carry his mantle as the world’s top 135-pound mixed martial artist into the UFC.

Digging leg and body kicks, multi-punch combinations and flying knees were all part of the Cruz onslaught. Utilizing the baffling movement for which he has become known, he weaved a web of mastery around the highly regarded Jorgensen, who appeared off balance and out of sorts for much of the 25-minute encounter.

“My conditioning was top-notch,” said Cruz, who has rattled off eight wins in a row. “I trained 10 straight rounds in practice, with a different guy every round. Scott was tough. He took everything I had.”

In the second round, Cruz supplemented his attack with takedowns, and his aggression never wavered. He rocked and briefly dropped Jorgensen with a short right hand inside the first 30 seconds of round three, later delivering a head kick, a series of grinding leg kicks and another takedown. Cruz took down Jorgensen, a three-time Pac-10 Conference wrestling champion at Boise State University, three times in the fourth. The challenger’s situation only deteriorated from there, as Cruz beat him to the punch again in round five, scored with yet another takedown and punctuated his victory.

“I felt I had a chip on my shoulder because a lot of people didn’t believe in me,” Cruz said. “This is my fourth title fight altogether, and I’ve won three in a row for a title now. I think you can believe it.”

Afterward, Cruz took aim at Urijah Faber, the only man to defeat him. The two could conceivably meet in the first bantamweight title bout in UFC history sometime in early 2011.

“The future holds a lot of title defenses,” Cruz said. “Every time I’m in here, I’m fighting for a new belt, and I’m going to keep that mindset from beginning to end. I’m ready to fight Urijah. Let’s do it.”

Cerrone (above) tapped Horodecki.Former WEC lightweight title contender Donald Cerrone submitted Chris Horodecki with a second-round triangle choke in a featured duel at 155 pounds. Having spent more than a minute and a half inside the choke, Horodecki finally succumbed to the hold 2:43 into round two.

Cerrone worked his jab and kicks from the outset, scored with a takedown and nearly mounted Horodecki in the first period. The Canadian freed himself and later scored with a spinning back kick. However, his offense was limited, and his need to move inside the gangly Cerrone’s reach left the Shawn Tompkins trained fighter in constant peril. Cerrone delivered another takedown with 20 seconds to go and secured back control as the round ended.

In the second, Cerrone again turned to his superiority on the ground. The Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout put Horodecki on his back inside the first 30 seconds and went to work. An omoplata-neck crank combination led into the triangle choke.

Horodecki fought valiantly to keep himself in the fight, but Cerrone slowly tightened and adjusted the submission, soliciting a reluctant tapout from the 2007 International Fight League lightweight grand prix finalist.

Kamal Shalorus kept his undefeated record intact, as he earned a split decision against IFL veteran Bart Palaszewski. Two of the three cage-side judges scored it for Shalorus, 30-27 and 29-28; a third saw it 29-28 for Palaszewski.

Shalorus stormed out to a commanding lead with a one-sided first round. The Iranian-born lightweight took down Palaszewski and attacked with heavy ground-and-pound: hammerfists, elbows, thudding right hands to the body and standing-to-ground punches. Palaszewski weathered them all, and the two men traded wicked leg kicks to close out the stanza.

A Jeff Curran protégé, Palaszewski succumbed to a single-leg takedown in the second round but battled his way back to his feet, eating punches as he stood. Palasewski’s combinations began finding a home on the winded Shalorus, and by the end of the round, he was motioning for his foe to come forward. Shalorus obliged.

After backing up Palaszewski with heavy punches, Shalorus returned to his wrestling roots in round three. He scored with a pair of takedowns, passed to half guard after the second and dropped elbows. Palaszewski scrambled to his feet and attacked with crisp combinations, a stout head kick and a knee up the middle. Still, it was not enough to sway the verdict.

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Pettis Takes Title; Bookends WEC with a Bang

Anthony Pettis file photo | Sherdog.com

What a way to go out.

In the of WEC's final round of action, Anthony Pettis landed one of the most spectacular kicks in the history of the sport, dropping Benson Henderson and securing Pettis both the round and the contest by earning a unanimous decision in the main event of WEC 53 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

Following 20 hard-fought minutes of action, Pettis threw caution to the wind in the fifth frame, launching off the fence and connecting with a powerful roundhouse to the head of the circling champion. Dubbed the “Showtime Kick” by Pettis at the post-fight press conference, the 23-year-old credited his trainer with inspiring him to attempt the maneuver.

“Duke Roufus plays with us, and we try these new kicks. He told us if one of us lands it in the cage that he would take us to dinner,” said Pettis. “So he owes me some dinner.”

While most would shy away from attempting such a flashy technique in the fifth round of such an important fight, Pettis claims the move was executed out of necessity.

“I saw he kept circling across the cage, and I knew I had to try it. When he was [circling] away from the cage, I knew I had room to jump off,” said Pettis. “The biggest thing going through my mind was [that I needed to] go for it. He was checking my low kicks. So [I decided that I had to] do something outside of the box and see what happens. I just wanted to land something. If I wouldn't have landed the kick, I would have followed up with something else.”

Though the kick knocked the champion off his feet, Henderson somehow managed to recover, shooting a single leg and surviving till the final bell. According to Pettis, overcoming the durable champion in such a fashion was a surreal, but exhilarating experience.

“It doesn't feel real. It's crazy. That was a tough fight, and he's a great fighter,” said Pettis. “I'm feeling great. The only thing that hurts is my right foot from that crazy kick off the cage.”

With the fight arguably tied at two rounds a piece heading into the fifth, “Showtime” was so engaged in the action that he had lost track of the time.

“I thought I was going into the fourth, and my corner said it was the last round. I came with some crazy stuff and it paid off,” he said.

Pettis, whose father was murdered in 2003, asserts that his father's memory gives him strength in the cage.

“This is a dream come true. My dad was with me through my whole martial arts career. When he died, I stopped [practicing] for a while. Then I found MMA with Duke Roufus and Pat Barry. They're like my family,” said Pettis. “My dad gave me my competitive edge. I feel close to him doing this. The belt is just icing on the cake. I can't wait to go back to his grave and show him the belt.”

On the horizon sits the new biggest fight of Pettis' young career: a showdown with the UFC lightweight champion. Regardless of who wins the championship scrap between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard at UFC 125, Pettis says he'll be ready.

“I haven't had time to think about Edgar or Maynard, because I’ve been focused on Ben Henderson. So I'll go home and figure out both styles. I think I'll fight both eventually,” said Pettis. “I’m coming here to fight the best, and this [WEC] belt doesn't mean I’m the best yet. I want the next one. That means I’m the best.”

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As Title Shot Looms, Pettis Thankful for WEC Ride

Anthony Pettis (right) | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

After competing under the World Extreme Cagefighting banner for just a year and a half, lightweight title contender Anthony Pettis finds himself in an enviable position. The 23-year-old is only two victories away from being called the planet's top 155-pounder.

Before he can claim that title, however, he must defeat WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson on Thursday in the main event of WEC 53 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The winner of that clash will earn an automatic title shot at the UFC strap, which will be contested by Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on Jan. 1.

“Ben Henderson is the champ for a reason. He's a good fighter, and I’ve got to get past him before I can even think about fighting in the UFC,” said Pettis during last week's WEC conference call. “But I do always get asked how I would do against the UFC guys. How better to find out than to fight the [UFC] champ? It's crazy. Getting that opportunity is just a blessing.”

As the WEC enters its last-ever event before merging with the UFC, “Showtime” is grateful for the opportunities the organization has given him.

“The WEC, for me, was my home. It made me who I am today. I’m so thankful that the WEC gave me chance to show my skills on a huge level,” said Pettis. “I want the WEC's legacy to be great fights put on by great fighters. And I want the lightweight class to represent. We're going to be stacked up against UFC guys, and I want the WEC to be remembered for bringing over some great lightweights.”

Regarding his upcoming fight with Henderson, the Roufusport product believes he can't afford to make any mistakes if he's to conquer the champion.

“Ben is good everywhere. He's one of the most well-rounded lightweights in the world. To beat him, I’ve got to stick to my game plan and make his takedowns tough. I also have to be unpredictable standing,” said Pettis. “He's hard to submit. His submission defense is awesome. His wrestling is great, and so is his guillotine. I think it's going to be a great last fight for the WEC.”

Come fight night the Wisconsin native will be forced to contend not only with Henderson, but also with a partisan Arizona crowd. When asked about the home-field disadvantage, Pettis dismissed the idea, arguing that the fight will be decided by the fighters, not the crowd.

“I have a lot of support coming down to Arizona. I’m excited, because it's not going to be 19 degrees out. I get to go wear some shorts out there,” he said. “The crowd's going to boo me, but however it plays out, it's just me and Ben in that cage. The crowd doesn't fight with you. So I’m not going to let that get to my head.”

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Plenty at Stake for Henderson and Pettis

“I am completely thankful to the WEC, which has been my home. I grew up a lot as a fighter in the WEC. I got national exposure. The life I live now is all thanks to WEC." Glendale, Ariz. -- Unlike college basketball, the sport of MMA doesn’t have a “Final Four.” But Thursday night’s main event between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis certainly has a Final Four type of feel to it. That’s because the victor will not only walk away with the WEC lightweight title, but is also guaranteed a shot at the UFC lightweight title next year. Having so much on the line presents an extraordinary set of opportunities for both fighters as they also prepare to make history by competing in the final bout in the WEC’s illustrious 9 and ½ year existence.

Henderson, the easy-going WEC champ and winner of 10 straight, lives and trains in Glendale and welcomes the potential benefits of a home crowd advantage. He has sparred in the past with former UFC champion BJ Penn and has long been keenly aware that he would never get the full credit he deserves, or be able to prove the full extent of his skills, until he was pitted against the UFC’s lightweight crop. Now, with the WEC set to merge with its big brother, the 27-year-old and his peers will get that chance. Henderson went so far as to say that he will be taking a piece of the WEC with him into the UFC, and that despite being a world champion he will be cloaked in an underdog’s clothing, mindful that some may perceive him to be a second-tier fighter underneath of the UFC’s elite. That is a perception he, Pettis and other WEC veterans hope to shatter.

“You better believe that there’s going to still be a chip on our shoulder, a chip on my shoulder personally, when I go against any UFC guy,” said the soft-spoken Henderson (12-1). “It’s nothing that they’ve done personally but I’ve got that chip on my shoulder. So I’m definitely going to be here to leave that legacy for the WEC.”

Of course, none of the stars in Henderson’s universe will align if he doesn’t first turn back the dynamic, highly unpredictable threat that is Anthony Pettis. Appropriately nicknamed “Showtime” for his penchant for flashiness inside of the cage, Pettis is a standup force who trains under one of the game’s most respected Muay Thai instructors, Duke Roufus. Pettis’ combination of athleticism, speed and technique make him particularly dangerous with punches, head kicks, flying knees and spinning backfists – surprise elements that can end a fight in an instant. While it is widely perceived that Henderson, a former collegiate wrestler with a wicked guillotine, could dominate on the canvas, Pettis is coming off a submission victory over Shane Roller – another accomplished wrestler with a nasty guillotine.

“The biggest thing I like about Anthony is that he gets better every fight,” said Henderson, who holds two bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and sociology. “He’s shown improvement in every area of his game, every fight. He’s improved his takedown defense and is finishing his submissions as well. He doesn’t fold under pressure; I like that.”

Despite his occasional flamboyance, Pettis is also a tough character. In a 2008 pro fight, the Milwaukee native was slammed to the canvas and suffered a dislocated shoulder. He shot to his feet and soon fired a sizzling head kick that knocked out his opponent. Heading into the biggest fight of his career, the 23-year-old former subject of an MTV “World of Jenks” episode said he aims to “make Milwaukee proud.” The memory of a loved one is also something that continues to fuel his fire.

“My dad was killed in an armed robbery in 2003,” he said. “I still use many of the life lessons he taught me.”

Pettis (10-1) said he is often asked, “How would you do against UFC guys?” He believes that Thursday night’s fight will help answer that question. He is not the least bit concerned about fighting the champ in his hometown.

“I’m excited because it’s not going to be 19 degrees out,” said Pettis, alluding to the frigid Milwaukee weather. “I get to wear some shorts out there. So, I mean, the crowd’s going to boo me or however it plays out. No matter what, it’s just me and Ben in that cage and that speaks for itself. It’s not the crowd inside there, so I’m not going to let that get to my head and I’m just going to fight my fight.”

Pettis conceded that he will try to exploit Henderson in the standup realm, if possible. The No.1 challenger said he looks forward to joining the UFC, hopefully fighting for the world title in his debut.

Henderson, meanwhile, perhaps spoke for both men in framing his gratitude to the WEC and GM Reed Harris, and also the new adventure that is right around the corner.

“I am completely thankful to the WEC, which has been my home,” Henderson said, expressing his mixed emotions. “I grew up a lot as a fighter in the WEC. I got national exposure. The life I live now is all thanks to WEC. For whatever reason, maybe it’s just a small bit of jealousy … but there has been a chip on our shoulder for not getting quite the recognition that we felt we deserve.

“I think every time there was a WEC we fought with a chip on our shoulder; like we wanted to stand out. We wanted to catch people’s attention, catch their eye and make people say, ‘Oh, man, did you watch those fights the other day? That was WEC. I was flipping through the channels and I saw these guys throwing down. They were all over the place, jumping off the cage and running around and it’s just non-stop action.’

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Pettis Dethrones Henderson in Final WEC Event

Glendale, Ariz. – UFC, are you ready for “Showtime?” Because he’s coming soon.

On a night wrapped in historical overtones, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis dethroned WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson at Jobing.com Arena to earn a UFC title shot. Both fighters waged a back-and-forth battle that was worthy of Fight of the Night and may have been decided in the final 80 seconds of the fifth round. With the fight apparently up for grabs, Pettis went airborne, acrobatically bounced off the cage fence and executed a beautiful high kick that landed flush on the hometown champ’s jaw and dropped him to the canvas. It was an electrifying and unprecedented move that no one in press row had ever seen, like something out of a “The Matrix” movie. It sent the live crowd at the arena into mass hysteria.

Henderson gamely weathered the crucial assault and got back to his feet, but that sequence may have anchored his defeat by unanimous decision. The riveting match was fittingly the last bout ever for the decade-old WEC, which is set to merge with its sister organization, the UFC. That means Pettis, a Milwaukee native who starred in an MTV episode of “World of Jenks,” is slated to fight the winner of the Jan. 1 bout between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and unbeaten challenger Gray Maynard.

An emotional Pettis, whose father was murdered during an armed robbery in 2003, credited his coach Duke Roufus for the one-of-a-kind kick that made a lot of people’s jaw drop.

“We practice that all the time,” Pettis said, “and I’ve got 10 more kicks like that coming when I get to the UFC.”

Roufus called the kick an “Ong Bak” kick, noting it is an old Muay Thai technique. Pettis dropped Henderson on another occasion with a stiff right hand, but barely survived a rear naked choke in the fourth round that was close to being dead on.

Pettis was not the only man to make history Thursday night. Dominick Cruz did, too. Cruz’s handsome reward for a night’s work: Two world titles and a slice of history. The super-quick Californian used his ‘catch-me-if-you-can’ striking style to beat up No.1 challenger Scott Jorgensen for five rounds to become the UFC’s first-ever bantamweight champion. The 25-year-old Cruz may well be on a collision course with Urijah Faber, the only man to defeat him in 18 pro fights.

“I’m ready to fight whoever,” Cruz said with the UFC belt around his waist and the WEC title strapped over one shoulder. “I want to fight Urijah. Let’s do it in Sacramento.”

If you’ve seen any of his Cruz’s fights over the past three years, you’ve pretty much seen them all. He used the same unorthodox blueprint to tame Jorgensen, a former Division I wrestling standout who had entered the bout winner of seven of his past eight fights. Since losing to Faber in March 2007, no one has been able to put a dent in the rejuvenated Dominick Cruz. He has overwhelmed and baffled seven straight foes with a blistering combination of punches, kicks, knees and takedowns. No fighter has been able to match his speed or figure out his rhythm, as he mixes up his striking and takedowns as well as anyone in the game.

At times against Jorgensen (11-4), it looked as if Cruz was engaging in target practice. He effortlessly danced around the cage and landed three-and-four strike combinations almost at will. Jorgensen, one of the sport’s most durable fighters, never came close to wilting and always kept coming. But he had difficulty mounting a sustained offense because Cruz was simply too fast, elusive and scrappy to nail down. Jorgensen did manage to take Cruz down twice and even bloodied the champ’s nose. On the other hand, Cruz took Jorgensen down in every round, bloodied the challenger’s nose and busted up his right eye enough to cause heavy swelling.

“My conditioning was top-notch, I trained 10 straight rounds in practice with a different sparring partner each round,” Cruz said. “Scotty is very tough. He took everything I had, head kicks and everything. Just a tough dude, man … The future holds a lot of title defenses. Every time I fight I’ll be fighting for another belt. That will be my mentality from beginning to end.”

In other action Thursday night:     

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki

Opposing fighters know that Donald Cerrone loves the triangle choke, but stopping the lanky Coloradan’s slippery jiu-jitsu game still can be a tall order. In a fight where Chris Horodecki seemed to get the better of the standup battle in round one, Cerrone resorted to his most predictable move, forcing Horodecki (15-3) to tap at 2:43 of round two.

Immediately after the bout, “Cowboy” called out UFC lightweight Cole Miller for his next fight.

“Cole Miller beat a good friend of mine, Leonard Garcia,” said Cerrone (13-3, 1 NC). “Cole, I’m coming for you.”

Cerrone, who entered this contest coming off the finest performance of his career against Jamie Varner, credited coach Greg Jackson with helping him guard against a letdown.

Kamal Shalorus vs. Bart Palaszewski

The first round of this contest was a glorious testament to Bart Palaszewski’s toughness. The truth is, not many fighters could have withstood the ground-and-pound beating that “Bartimus” absorbed for the opening three minutes. Blow after blow of hard body shots, and occasional head shots, that produced loud thumping sounds for those sitting within 100 yards of cageside. Amazingly, once the human punching bag returned to his feet, Palaszewski’s face had neither blood nor swelling. But Shalorus, a world-class wrestler who hails from Iran and now trains in Austin, Texas, paid a price for his aggression. For the remaining 10 minutes he would be engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle, with Palaszewski (34-14) and his red Mohawk often getting the better of the standup exchanges with high kicks and fistic combinations.

“I took all of my strength trying to finish him,” Shalorus (7-0-2) said after judges awarded him a razor-thin split decision by scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. “I made a mistake and used all of my power and pretty much gassed out in the second round. I will make changes and come back stronger.”

Tiequan Zhang vs. Danny Downes

Fight aficionados, meet Danny “Boy” Downes. Highly intelligent, slightly geeky, and a young man who walked away from potential careers with the U.S. Secret Service or U.S. Commerce Department to be a fighter. On Thursday night, with his UFC future at stake, the Milwaukee product achieved what he called “the greatest accomplishment of my life” by upsetting previously unbeaten Chinese sensation Tiequan Zhang. The 32-year-old Zhang, a submission specialist, entered the bout with a sterling 17-0 record and furiously blitzed Downes for nearly the entire first round with submission attempts. Zhang took Downes down, and hunted for his trademark guillotine choke in vain. He wrenched on Downes’ arm with two armbars, squeezing with everything he had, and Downes kept coming. Most perilously, Zhang took Downes’ back with both hooks in and locked in several rear naked chokes. Downes, gasping for air, always managed to hand fight his way free or change the angle just a tad – though it was the Midwesterner’s heart, more than his technique, that seemed to set him free.

Never before in his career had Zhang been forced to fight beyond the first round. Downes had wanted to test his opponent’s gas tank and had succeeded. In the second round, a visibly spent Zhang looked like a 155-pound version of Shane Carwin during his UFC heavyweight title fight against Brock Lesnar. The turning point happened when Zhang went for a takedown, then oddly abandoned the takedown and pulled guard. The gesture signified his fatigue, and it was pretty much all Downes from that point on. The 24-year-old Duke Roufus protégé dominated positions on top and scored with ground and pound and threatened with rear naked chokes and an arm triangle. You could have arguably awarded Downes a 10-8 score for pitching a near-shutout in round two. The third round was mostly a carbon copy of the second, save for Downes (7-1) busting open Zhang’s right eye, causing significant swelling.

“I’m just really stubborn I guess,” a victorious Downes said afterward, alluding to his survival skills in the first round. “I trained really hard for this and made a lot of changes. Beating Zhang is the greatest accomplishment of my life.”

Judges scored the fight unanimously in Downes’ favor by scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.

Jamie Varner vs. Shane Roller

For a pro fighter, few moments are as exhilarating as triumphing in front of your hometown fans, and few as disappointing as coming up short on your home turf. Unfortunately for former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner, he tasted the latter experience on Thursday night. The Arizona native dropped Roller with a crisp left hook in the first round, but the Oklahoman recovered quickly. Roller, a highly-decorated wrestler, then scored a takedown and immediately transitioned to the back, sinking in a tight rear naked choke to win the tap at 3:55 of the first round.

The sudden and dramatic turn of events ended what has been a hellacious 2010 for Varner, who will finish this season with an 0-3-1 record. Roller, meanwhile, moved to 9-3, redeeming himself for a loss to Anthony Pettis.

“I just wanted to stay relaxed. I didn’t try to rush my takedowns and get it to the ground,” said Roller, who stood and traded with Varner for most of the fight and even cut Varner’s right eye. “I’ve got confidence in my hands and when the opportunity presents itself I’ll take it to the ground.”

Ivan Menjivar vs. Brad Pickett

The return of Ivan Menjivar to the UFC family produced an instant and leading candidate for Fight of the Night. In what played out as a predominantly standup extravaganza, Menjivar and Pickett took turns pounding each other with heavy leather, with the Montreal fighter rocking and wobbling Pickett in the second stanza and Pickett storming back in the third and returning the favor. The bout was awfully close but two Pickett takedowns in the opening round may have been the difference as the judges awarded him a unanimous decision by scores of 29-28 across the board.

The British-born fighter, who trains with American Top Team, said that some of Menjivar’s punches caused him to see “my mom, my dad.”

’I said ‘Dad, I’m fighting!’ and then came back to the fight,” said Pickett, who demonstrated both an iron jaw and iron will during the fight and ran his record to 21-5. “He hit me with some good shots, I hit him with some good shots, so I’m happy. In my opinion this is the biggest win of my career.  A lot of people don’t know about him, but he’s been fighting a long time … “

Eddie Wineland vs. Ken Stone

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, if he was watching, could definitely relate to what transpired in this matchup between former WEC bantamweight champ Wineland and WEC newcomer Stone. It was Stone, a member of American Top Team, who executed early with a bevy of stinging leg kicks that caught Wineland’s attention. One of MMA’s better boxers, Wineland momentarily stunned Stone with a potent right hand, though Stone would retaliate by cracking the Indiana fighter with a gnarly spinning backfist. Things got especially interesting when Stone jumped guard with a body triangle, forcing Wineland to stand and bear the weight of both men. Hoping to avoid going to the mat, Wineland – still carrying Stone’s weight – walked him toward the cage and eventually slammed him hard to the canvas with violent force. The impact of the blow knocked Stone unconscious at 2:11.  

“His first leg kick – wow! -- he’s got a nice leg kick and I really wasn’t expecting it,” Wineland (18-6-1) conceded afterward. “That’s definitely not a slapping leg kick. I tried to stay composed. I listened to my corner and (it was) lights out. I’m so hungry, I want it bad.”

Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr

We now know this about Danny Castillo: Thursday was not his “last call” in MMA’s biggest league. The northern Californian was on the defensive for much of this bout, which lasted only 85 seconds but never delivered a dull moment. Kerr stormed Castillo at the opening horn, firing off a flying knee that just missed. A scramble ensued, with the ultra-aggressive Kerr applying a guillotine choke that Castillo escaped. On the mat, Kerr immediately unleashed yet another trick, threatening with a deep series of heel hooks. Castillo defended the moves, but Kerr kept insisting on the submission. Heel hooks and foot locks can be wonderful surprise attacks, but there can be a downside. Focusing two hands on an opponent’s feet means no hands to defend your chin from punches. As it turned out, Kerr would pay for his insistence as Castillo landed a few heavy shots on top, putting his Connecticut adversary out cold.

“I’ve been working on staying composed in there and making the cage a home for myself,” said Castillo, a Team Alpha Male fighter who improved to 10-4. “Right now I feel like this is my house. I feel like I’ve found myself as a fighter, I know my identity as a fighter. I’m ready to move forward and to keep winning.”

Ricardo Lamas vs. Yuri Alcantara

This fight taught us that Yuri Alcantara, a training partner of Lyoto Machida, might be a fighter to keep our eyes on. Tonight, the hot-blooded Brazilian literally punched his ticket to the UFC. Equally dangerous on his feet and on the mat, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt eschewed his ground game and instead demonstrated devastating punching power, knocking Lamas out cold with a wide left hook at 3:26 of the opening stanza. The one-punch explosion ended what had been a fairly competitive standup fight, with each lightweight scoring in the clinch with knees.

“My hands are real powerful. Thank god I have another victory,” said Alcantara, who improved to 24-3 and is riding an 11-fight win streak.

Chris Cariaso vs. Renan Barao

What looked like an intriguing matchup on paper turned into a decidedly one-sided affair as Barao, a much-hyped bantamweight and training partner of WEC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo, dominated en route to a victory via submission. The 23-year-old Brazilian burst out of the gate with a steady stream of leg kicks. When the action hit the mat, Barao deftly passed Cariao’s guard and threatened with a kimura, then smoothly transitioned to an armbar attempt before finally settling on Cariaso’s back with both hooks in. The San Franciscan’s attempts to fend off Barao failed, and Barao cinched in the choke and won the tap at 3:47 of the first round.

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