Anthony Pettis: I’ve stopped consuming alcohol, cannabis

In 2014, Anthony Pettis was on the Wheaties box, with an 18-2 record, having won performance bonuses in each of his last four fights, and had successfully won and defended the UFC lightweight championship. Since then he has gone 5-8. “Showtime” dropped to featherweight to unsuccessfully challenge for the then-vacant 145 title and missed weight. Now 33, for the past two years Pettis has largely been fighting at welterweight, and on the undercard of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 42, he fights Alex Morono. The UFC is cutting 60 fighters, and with a loss Pettis is 1-3 the last four.

It is my last fight on the UFC contract, said Pettis on Wednesday. Under my current contract. So we’re in negotiations. Not sure where we’re going from here. My team keeps asking me questions and trying to figure out what’s next, but I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m in such a good spot mentally that I don’t want to fog that vision with what’s next.’ Because if I think about what’s next I’m not in the present moment.

I’m not worried about [not renewing his contract]. I feel like whatever’s supposed to happen as far as where I’m going next or if I’m fighting in the UFC again or if I can make another title run, my performance on Saturday will dictate that. It’s not something I can control. I can’t go in there and meet with guys and say, ‘I’m going to do this.’ My performances are going to dictate what happens next.

I think that the UFC is a great business. I’ve been part of this company for 12 years almost now. I’ve seen every stage of this company and I’ve been on the top of the top when I was getting on Wheaties box and was world champion. I’ve been fighting for my job when I had a three-loss losing streak from Rafael dos Anjos to Eddie Alvarez to Edson Barboza. I’ve been on the chopping block for a long time where if I let that mindset play in, there’s no coming back from that because that’s what you focused on. It’s a blessing for me to have this mindset right now with all the news about cuts and going to different promotions. I don’t feel pressure for that right now.

One thing Pettis has changed is his use of alcohol and cannabis; the latter is a recent indulgence, the former one of longstanding. The fighter said that publicly acknowledging his decision to stay sober is a form of holding himself accountable.

Obviously, alcohol is everywhere and for me, that’s one of my vices, he said. When I lost my dad, going all the way back to that, that’s when it was introduced to me…dealing with my pain and sorrow with alcohol or some kind of substance.

I’m not saying marijuana is bad, or saying yes or no to that but for me, where my journey is, it takes me out of being present. At this part of my life, I don’t need that stuff.”

h/t Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie • Sam Riches for London Free Press