Sergio Pettis: Battles through war inside and outside the cage to be his best self
After a lengthy layoff, Sergio Pettis headed into his Bellator 297 fight against Patrico Pitbull looking to cement his legacy and defend his title. Leading into the fight, Pettis made it a point to address his mental health and battles with anxiety.
Just like a fight inside the cage, Sergio Pettis acknowledged that there’s always an ongoing battle with mental health and anxiety. Heading into his title unification fight against Patchy Mix at Bellator 301, Pettis once again spoke about his battle with anxiety, focusing on his mental health, and why he believes it gives him an upper hand come fight night.
During media day this week, Sergio Pettis told reporters that he feels the battle of mental health is there with him every fight, and after thinking about Patchy Mix for the past five months, he believes going through the battle outside the cage, will be a blessing in disguise inside the cage.
Sergio Pettis faces an extremely tough fight this evening. But every day, he battles through the war of mental health and he believes it gives him an upper hand inside the cage. #Bellator301 @mymmanews pic.twitter.com/tIB3ljQZrD
— Mike Pendleton (@MP2310) November 17, 2023
“I feel like what I deal with all is that it comes with every fight. You know, every time is a new challenge. I’ve been thinking about this man for the past five months every day, kind of getting a little sick of it to be hones but the mental health for me, I think it plays in my favor. I like having these anxieties, having these doubts, it makes me train harder so I don’t have these doubts. Anxiety actually brings it out at the fight, I’m able to be sharper and be more aware, more focused on the goal, so I think it’s a blessing in disguise.”
There are plenty of narratives heading into the unification of the Bellator MMA bantamweight title, but for Sergio Pettis to not only be able to recognize his mental health, but use it as a motivational factor, is a testament to his character as a man and fighter. Pettis can set the record for most title defense in Bellator MMA bantamweight history if he is victorious over Mix at Bellator 301, and all things considered, he may have his mental health and battles with anxiety to credit for it all.
Making a name for himself throughout his career and now during his run as world champion, Sergio Pettis is himself, no longer the “brother of Anthony Pettis” and he has built himself a championship legacy, respect among peers, and an influence for so many, even if they’re just looking for inspiration in their battle of mental health.
