Pettis, a former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, is scheduled to take on Max Holloway in his second featherweight bout tomorrow night in Toronto, Canada, but weighed in three pounds overweight at 148 lbs.
In his featherweight debut against Charles Oliveira at UFC on FOX 21, Pettis looked gaunt stepping on the scales but managed to make the weight cut.
The 29-year-old spoke to MMA Fighting on Friday and said his body ‘just gave out’ when he reached the 146.5 mark.
“It was a team call,” Pettis said, per MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani. “My body just wouldn’t let go of that extra weight. It’s just one those things. We did everything right beforehand, everything was on point. My body just gave out. I had nothing left to give.
“In the end, we decided that my career and health are more important than those two extra pounds.”
Pettis said he had a real scare when he struggled to control his breathing and began to gag whenever his body temperature rose. A UFC medical doctor advised the Milwaukee-based fighter to abandon the weight cut and begin rehydrating. Pettis took the hint and immediately began to rehydrate with water.
“It was definitely a different feeling,” Pettis said. “I’ve never felt like that in my life.”
Pettis was set to face Holloway for the interim featherweight title, but it’s being reported that ‘Showtime’ will not win the belt if be beats ‘Blessed’ in the main event. Holloway, on the other hand, will be crowned champion if he wins and will take home 20 percent of Pettis’ purse.
Pettis says he isn’t bothered about the interim title and is solely focused on securing the win on Saturday.
“I’m not here for the interim belt,” he said. “Originally, this fight wasn’t for the belt. The plan has always been to just beat Max Holloway.
“And he’s not beating me tomorrow night.”
Holloway vs. Pettis will take place tomorrow night, Dec. 10 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Pettis believes he was on track for a successful weight cut at UFC 196, but says his body just gave out.
Pettis, a former WEC and UFC lightweight champion, is scheduled to take on Max Holloway in his second featherweight bout tomorrow night in Toronto, Canada, but weighed in three pounds overweight at 148 lbs.
In his featherweight debut against Charles Oliveira at UFC on FOX 21, Pettis looked gaunt stepping on the scales but managed to make the weight cut.
The 29-year-old spoke to MMA Fighting on Friday and said his body ‘just gave out’ when he reached the 146.5 mark.
“It was a team call,” Pettis said, per MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani. “My body just wouldn’t let go of that extra weight. It’s just one those things. We did everything right beforehand, everything was on point. My body just gave out. I had nothing left to give.
“In the end, we decided that my career and health are more important than those two extra pounds.”
Pettis said he had a real scare when he struggled to control his breathing and began to gag whenever his body temperature rose. A UFC medical doctor advised the Milwaukee-based fighter to abandon the weight cut and begin rehydrating. Pettis took the hint and immediately began to rehydrate with water.
“It was definitely a different feeling,” Pettis said. “I’ve never felt like that in my life.”
Pettis was set to face Holloway for the interim featherweight title, but it’s being reported that ‘Showtime’ will not win the belt if be beats ‘Blessed’ in the main event. Holloway, on the other hand, will be crowned champion if he wins and will take home 20 percent of Pettis’ purse.
Pettis says he isn’t bothered about the interim title and is solely focused on securing the win on Saturday.
“I’m not here for the interim belt,” he said. “Originally, this fight wasn’t for the belt. The plan has always been to just beat Max Holloway.
“And he’s not beating me tomorrow night.”
Holloway vs. Pettis will take place tomorrow night, Dec. 10 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
