Continuing to add growth to the GAMMA USA leadership team, current PFL Lightweight & former UFC/WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis joins GAMMA USA’s Athletes’ Commission. Anthony has a unique perspective on the developmental platform for competitive martial arts, as he started training and competing in various combat sports since he was a youth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Pettis started training in Taekwondo and Boxing around the age of 5 and picked up wrestling once he got into College. At the age of 18, Pettis took his training to a renowned mixed martial arts academy, Roufusport, where he began training under coach Duke Roufus.
Pettis started his journey into professional mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2007 and has competed against current and former MMA stars including current ONE Championship veteran and former UFC/Bellator Champion Eddie Alvarez, former UFC Champion Max Holloway, UFC veteran Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, UFC multiple record holder Donald ‘Cowboy Cerrone, Bellator Lightweight and former UFC/WEC Champion Benson Henderson, UFC vet and former Strikeforce/WEC Champion Gilbert Melendez, former UFC Interim Champ Dustin Poirier, UFC veteran Nate Diaz, etc.
Pettis is currently signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as a lightweight with an upcoming debut on 23rd April 2021, which can be watched on ESPN2. In addition to competing, Pettis will be assisting with commentary duties for PFL in the future.
One of the accomplishments Pettis is most proud of is the launch of his family-owned training academy Showtime Martial Arts in Franklin, WI. The academy offers professional, world-class Taekwondo, striking & grappling instruction for men, women, and juniors as young as 3. It also offers comprehensive Martial Arts programs for complete beginners seeking fitness and self-defence solutions to experienced martial arts athletes looking for the thrill of competition, to become an instructor or one day run their own school.
“We are delighted that GAMMA USA has taken the initiative to be aligned with the IOC by setting up an Athletes’ Commission so that the voice of athletes is represented in decision-making,” said Alexander Engelhardt, President of GAMMA. “GAMMA’s top priorities have always been about athlete development and takes an athlete-first approach in all that we do. We look to further support athletes and promote their rights and responsibilities including their right to practise mixed martial arts and compete without being subject to discrimination in a transparent, clean, and fair environment.”
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