UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis

About UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis

UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis is a hyped mixed martial arts event as part of the Ultimate Fighting Championship series which took place on March 23, 2019. The event, produced by the UFC, saw the face-off between Anthony "Showtime" Pettis and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, two extremely talented fighters in the welterweight division. In this exciting bout, Pettis emerged victorious with a spectacular knockout in the second round, surprising many fans and critics. The event was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Making / Production

The UFC Fight Night events are planned and produced by the UFC organization. From fighter selection to promotional activities, everything is in-house coordinated. Arranging the Thompson vs. Pettis fight was an exciting prospect because the fighters were switching weight classes, creating an unpredictable dynamic that fans looked forward to.

Actors

• Anthony Pettis as himself - In his first appearance at the welterweight level, Pettis delivered an unexpected knockout, executing his character as the surprise underdog perfectly.
• Stephen Thompson as himself - Thompson, playing his part as always, brought class, skill, and respect to the octagon, despite the result not going in his favour.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This event marked Pettis' welterweight debut, a change from his usual lightweight category.
• This was Thompson's first knockout loss in his professional MMA career.
• The fight-night had an attendance of around 10,863 spectators.

Awards

Befitting the high-action intensity of the match, Pettis' knockout victory over Thompson was rewarded with the "Performance of the Night" bonus.

Quotes

• “It feels amazing, man. I felt like before in my career, I was trying to make weight and just worrying about what was going on with the scale. Now I’m focused on what I can do, my abilities and I felt good.” - Anthony Pettis after the fight
• "I was doing everything I was supposed to do and, next thing you know, waking up to Herb Dean. It’s a heartbreak for sure.” - Thompson on his knockout

Music, Soundtrack

• As with all UFC events, the entrance music for the fighters is chosen by them. For this event, Thompson walked out to "Wonderboy" by Tenacious D, while Pettis entered the arena to “Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco.