Sergio Pettis is a world champion, at last.
The top contender made the most of his first Bellator title fight opportunity, using his speedy striking and grappling defense to win a unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) over Juan Archuleta (25-3) in the main event Bellator 258 to win the bantamweight championship.
It was a career-best performance for Pettis (21-5), a former UFC flyweight contender and the brother of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The younger Pettis shined Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., establishing a pace and rhythm on the feet that Archuleta had to contend with for five rounds.