Bellator 272: Pettis KOs Horiguchi

Bellator 272 took place on December 3, 2021, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Sergio Pettis retained the bantamweight championship with a fourth-round spinning-backfist knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi. Jeremy Kennedy and Johnny Eblen also earned main-card victories, while Josh Hill produced another striking finish.

Pettis vs. Horiguchi: A Stunning Comeback

The main event of the night was a bantamweight title fight between Sergio Pettis and Kyoji Horiguchi. Pettis, the reigning champion, was losing nearly every round of his title defense against Horiguchi, a former titleholder. However, in a stunning turn of events, Pettis rallied late in Round 4 to retrieve victory from the jaws of defeat by knocking Horiguchi out cold with a spinning back fist. This violent finish spoiled what had been a flawless return to the promotion for Horiguchi, who was forced to vacate the 135-pound Bellator title he won in 2019 due to a knee injury.

Other Notable Fights

In the co-main event, Emmanuel Sanchez battled Jeremy Kennedy in a featherweight action. Kennedy emerged victorious, winning via unanimous decision. Another notable fight was between Johnny Eblen and Collin Huckbody, where Eblen won via a first-round technical knockout.

Hill knocked out Jared Scoggins with a punch at 0:56 of round two. Eblen stopped Collin Huckbody at 1:11 of the first round, and Alexandr Shabliy defeated Bobby King by unanimous decision. The main card therefore combined an extraordinary championship comeback with decisive supporting performances.

Event Perspective

Pettis’s finish at 3:24 of round four was the night’s defining moment. Horiguchi had been controlling much of the fight, but the champion found a knockout before the final round. The result illustrated why a leading fighter must remain defensively alert until the contest ends.

The bantamweight title remained with Pettis despite the challenger’s strong early work. Kennedy’s unanimous decision over Emmanuel Sanchez added a clear featherweight result, while Hill and Eblen supplied finishes. Together, those outcomes gave the event substance beyond its spectacular headline knockout.

Why the Event Mattered

Pettis’s victory was a comeback title defense, rather than evidence that he had controlled the entire fight. The distinction is central to its appeal: one well-timed strike reversed a contest that had largely favored Horiguchi. That sudden change made the finish a lasting highlight.

Sources

MMA Fighting: Bellator 272 results; MMA Fighting: championship recap; Event results record.

Article Tags

Bellator, Bellator 272, Mixed Martial Arts