It's WEC 53. The date is December 16th 2010. The final fight in the famous blue cage. It's the last round entering the final minute to determine the last ever WEC lightweight champion before folding into the UFC, and Anthony Pettis just lands the kick heard around the world, subsequently 'The Showtime Kick' was born.
Pettis and Benson Henderson were not only vying to be crowned the final WEC lightweight champion but also a shot at UFC gold following the promotion absorbing into the UFC.
The two Zuffa promotions had remain separate until Dana White decided to merge the sister organisation creating a uber fight league filling their roster with a myriad of talent including Donald Cerrone, Carlos Condit, Jose Aldo, Dominick Cruz, to name but a few
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("He ran off the wall like a ninja!" Shouts commentator Stephan Bonnar)
Meanwhile, Pettis was attempting to snatch the belt of Henderson as he rolled up into his backyard of Glendale, Arizona. After four grueling rounds of intense action, the bout was heading into a decisive last stanza. Two of the three judges had the fight 2-a-piece making the fifth and final round, effectively, a winners take all round.
As WEC's existence waned amidst the final 64-seconds, Pettis ran up the side of the cage (!!) delivering a bloody incredible feat by unleashing a head-kick flooring Henderson in the process.
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Pettis' ability to create something out of nothing was perfectly capitulated by this outrageous moment as 'The Showtime Kick' remains firmly etched into MMA's ultimate highlight-reel. And while it sent shock waves through the sport, it also spilled out of the sporting bubble into the mainstream garnering wide acclaim from the masses. Time to gawk, check it out below:
WHAT. A. KICK!! Take a bow, Anthony.
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