Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis To Host MMA Midwest Invitational On August 12

Anthony “Showtime” Pettis is fresh off a Professional Fighters League win that saw him conquer his opponent with a first-round triangle choke and showed why he’s still one of the most dazzling MMA fighters on the planet.

S0 you’d think Pettis would love to talk about his victory. Not so much. All he wants to discuss is his side hustle: promoting fights.

“I get an adrenaline rush from promoting that’s similar to fighting,” he said. “With promoting, I’m trying to put the puzzle pieces together and create a masterpiece.”

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Pettis’ next potential masterpiece will be the inaugural Anthony Pettis Fight Club Midwest Invitational on August 12 at Franklin Field in Franklin, Wisconsin — just south of Milwaukee, where he grew up and learned how to throw fists and feet. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.

The event will feature men’s and women’s bouts comprised of unsigned talent solely from the Midwest, which, Pettis said, has become a hotbed of MMA talent.

“I was lucky to be discovered by the UFC, now it’s my turn to give the same spotlight to the fighters from this region,” he said. “My goal is to make this an annual event that athletes from the area are proud to say they competed in.”

Pettis promises a night of dynamic matchups on August 12. Information regarding bouts, participants, and ticket pricing for the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pettis’ plan is to follow up his Midwest invitational with one from the West Coast later this year and an event from East Coast next year. Ultimately, he wants the winners of the regions to face off.

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The Midwest card is a follow-up to his promotional debut from Lakeland, Fla. on Feb. 11. He said of the event: “The night of the show was amazing, but it was a learning experience.”

The biggest thing Pettis learned from his Florida card: Managing budget.

“You gotta stay true to budget,” he said. “But I’m learning how to promote fights, and eventually I’ll put the small details on it and make it flawless machine.”

Speaking of flawless, Pettis kicked off his 2022 PFL season with a victory on May 6 at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas, when he submitted Ireland’s Myles Price at 4:17 of Round 1.

Pettis, who’s the current leader in the PFL’s lightweight division with 6 points, will fight Stevie Ray in the next round of the PFL tournament on June 24.

Take a look at Pettis’ most recent work:

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After dropping two fights in his PFL debut in 2021, Pettis said he is more prepared this season, saying his ultimate goal is to win the PFL lightweight title. And if he does, he would become the only fighter who has held the lightweight crowns in the WEC, UFC and PFL.

“That’s all that I want, man — a third title — to add to my legacy,” Pettis said.

And Pettis’ legacy is growing with fighting — and now promoting.

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