Anthony Pettis
Active 2011–present · rated in 2 editions · peak overall 89.0
Scouting report
Capturing the UFC Lightweight Championship via first-round armbar submission of Benson Henderson at UFC 164, Anthony "Showtime" Pettis defined a striking style built on creativity — including the "Showtime Kick" off the cage that won him the WEC title against Henderson in 2010. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under Duke Roufus, Pettis utilized Taekwondo kicks and submissions off his back, his arsenal captured by a 96 Kickboxing and 86 BJJ.
Peak ratings
By edition
Pettis captured the UFC Lightweight Championship in August 2013 at UFC 164 in Milwaukee, submitting Benson Henderson with a first-round armbar following first-round knockout finishes of Joe Lauzon in Saitama and Donald Cerrone in Chicago. His Taekwondo striking, kick setups, and submission skills are reflected in a 94 Kickboxing and 86 Boxing rating across his title ascent.
Pettis defended his title at UFC 181 in December 2014 by submitting Gilbert Melendez with a second-round guillotine choke, before dropping the lightweight crown to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185 in Dallas. His kicking offense, boxing counters, and front chokes are captured in his 96 Kickboxing and 88 Boxing ratings.
Anthony Pettis and the kick everyone remembers
Anthony Pettis built his name on a single moment at WEC 53, when he ran up the cage and kicked Benson Henderson in the face. Later he beat Henderson again to win the UFC lightweight title. The highlight was the kick, but the fighter behind it has good boxing, a taekwondo base and a sharp guard game.
Pettis attribute by attribute
Boxing. Better than most people remember. Sharp counters, smooth footwork, and hands that work in combination with his kicks.
Kickboxing. The standout. Taekwondo-style kicks from odd angles, including head kicks, body kicks and off-the-cage strikes.
Wrestling. The soft spot. He can stuff a shot and get back up, but he isn't at his best against a strong wrestler.
BJJ. Very good. He finished Henderson with an armbar from his back at UFC 164, and his guard is a threat.
Strength. Fine for the weight. He is athletic more than strong.
Durability. Decent, though he was hurt by heavy body shots and hard punches at times.
Cardio. Good. He is comfortable at a steady pace, if not the top of the division.
Fight IQ. Creative. He looks for the unusual option, sometimes at the cost of playing it safe.
The showpiece: Kickboxing
Kickboxing leads his sheet and it should. Pettis threw kicks that other fighters do not even practice, and he set them up with real boxing. If you need a slot for range striking and a finisher's flair, this is where he pays off.
The hole in the game: Wrestling
Wrestling is the lowest number. Pettis liked staying on the outside and finishing from range, so a wrestler who can close the distance and hold him against the cage is a real problem. Consider covering this with a strong wrestling pick elsewhere on the board.
Keep exploring
Closest lightweight profiles to Anthony Pettis, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Donald Cerronebest kickboxing 92 · weakest wrestling 76
- Dan Hookerbest kickboxing 90 · weakest wrestling 78
- Dustin Poirierbest boxing 94 · weakest wrestling 78
- Edson Barbozabest kickboxing 95 · weakest bjj 74
- Lightweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Anthony Pettis's strongest attribute, Kickboxing.
Draft Anthony Pettis into your build
Anthony Pettis enters the pool on any spin landing on lightweight between 2010 and 2015. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Anthony Pettis is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Anthony Pettis's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.