Seth Petruzelli "punched myself out" at UFC 116, hopes for another UFC fight

Sakara=Excitement · 07-05-2010, 03:28 PM

Seth Petruzelli "punched myself out" at UFC 116, hopes for another UFC fight | MMAjunkie.com

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Following his loss to Ricardo Romero at this past weekend's UFC 116 event, Seth Petruzelli (12-5 MMA, 0-3 UFC) has received hundreds of social-media messages that raved about his performance.

But he spoke to MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) while sitting in a soon-to-depart plane because he read that UFC president Dana White handed out extra bonus checks after the event.

He wanted to know if he was on the list.

"It would really help out," said Petruzelli, who is unsure if he'll get another UFC fight.

Petruzelli faced Romero on the Spike TV-televised portion of the July 3 card, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He hadn't stepped inside the octagon since April 2007, when Wilson Gouveia submitted him at UFC Fight Night 9.

Few fighters have experienced the career twists and turns of Petruzelli. The 30-year-old fighter appeared on the second season of "The Ultimate Fighter," received his UFC walking papers after the Gouveia loss, then catapulted to front pages everywhere when he knocked out Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson at the final CBS-televised EliteXC event in October 2008.

The Kimbo win turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing, and he struggled to book fights after EliteXC folded one month after his upset win.

He campaigned actively for a second chance with the UFC, and with two post-Kimbo victories, he got his wish.

Petruzelli took to the cage like a man possessed and threw all but the kitchen sink at Romero. Several times, he seemingly was moments away from putting the UFC newcomer to sleep. It was an electrifying first round, but somehow, Romero managed to survive, and Petruzelli began to slow.

"I guess I just punched myself out," Petruzelli said.

Petruzelli knocked Romero down in the second frame and scored a cut, but he didn't have the gas to engage in a grappling war and got caught in an armbar midway through the round.

The colorfully maned fighter doesn't want to make any excuses for the fight and said he should have been in better shape.

"I just got lazy on the bottom for 10 seconds and got caught," Petruzelli said. "I could have got out of that submission. I was just tired."

UFC contracts say fighters can be released any time after a loss, and there are usually a wave of cuts following events. However, the promotion often keeps around those who deliver exciting fights, and by fan reaction alone, Petruzelli's battle delivered the goods. He also took the fight on a little less than a month's notice when a matchup between Romero and Steve Cantwell failed to materialize.

But for now, the "TUF 2" veteran is in the dark about his UFC future, and to his knowledge, he hasn't received an extra check.

"I don't know," Petruzelli said of his contractual status. "I haven't heard anything from (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva or Dana White yet. Monte Cox, my manager, said it was an unbelievable fight (and) everyone was happy."

Still, his frustration is palpable.

"Honestly, I don't think I belong in the UFC until I win a fight," Petruzelli said. "Obviously, it was a good showing, but I feel I've let everyone down. I don't think I belong until I win a damn fight in the UFC.

"That's all I want to do is win a fight, and I think I should have won that. I know I can hang with anybody, man. I just need to go out there and do it one time."

Trojan Fight Club · 07-05-2010, 03:30 PM

those double fisted punches were ridiculous, I couldn't believe I was seeing it haha I hope Seth gets another shot until he gassed he performed very well in my opinion.