Cerrone vs. Pettis 3 Is Happening — On the Grappling Mats

Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis are running it back a third time — just not in a cage. RAF confirmed Wednesday that the pair will grapple at RAF 15 on Nov. 28 at NOW Arena in Chicago, reviving a rivalry that's sat dormant since their 2020 rematch.

The scoreboard isn't kind to Cowboy here. Pettis won both of their UFC meetings: a first-round knockout in 2013 that launched his run to the lightweight title, and a contested decision at UFC 249 in 2020. That makes this a 0-2 hole Cerrone is trying to climb out of on the mats, where neither man has a track record of submission dominance to lean on.

Two Fighters, Long Layoffs

Cerrone hasn't competed since 2022, when he closed out one of the busiest careers in UFC history on a brutal seven-fight winless streak. The grappling format strips away the striking volume and cardio concerns that defined his later years — a kinder arena, in theory, for a 40-something veteran easing back into competition.

Pettis has stayed considerably more active, if not in MMA. He last fought under the PFL banner in 2022, then kept himself busy with boxing and Karate Combat appearances. His most recent outing came in 2024, a unanimous-decision win over Chris Avila on the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing undercard.

Part of a Bigger Card Push

RAF has been stacking its slate with recognizable names. The promotion's Abu Dhabi events feature Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Giga Chikadze, Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Urijah Faber, and a Colby Covington–Khamzat Chimaev crossover headliner. Covington, 17-5 and coming off a doctor's-stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley, headlines a bout billed for a cruiserweight crossover title.

Cerrone-Pettis slots neatly into that strategy: a legacy name, an old grudge, and a format that takes the mileage off both men. Whether a third chapter settles anything is beside the point. For two fighters a long way from their primes, a Chicago grappling mat is a reasonable place to see who's got anything left.