Milwaukee's Anthony Pettis is staging an MMA showcase event at an unusual local venue

JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
Fans look on at the Milwaukee Milkmen season opener against the Chicago Dogs on July 3, 2020 at Franklin Field.
Fans look on at the Milwaukee Milkmen season opener against the Chicago Dogs on July 3, 2020 at Franklin Field.
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Anthony Pettis, a Milwaukee native and former UFC lightweight champion, is bringing a series of mixed martial arts fights to an unusual place near his hometown — Franklin Field, home of the Milwaukee Milkmen baseball team in Franklin.

Pettis will not fight in the event Friday; he suffered broken bones in his hands last week and will require surgery. But his Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship will host its first Midwest showcase event featuring top prospects from the region.

“The APFC Midwest Invitational is the event I wish existed when I was coming up in the regional circuit,” Pettis said in a release. “We’re looking to showcase up-and-coming talent and emerging combat sports stars of the Midwest.”

Anthony Pettis hopes to provide an event that gets talented MMA fighters in the midwest discovered.
Anthony Pettis hopes to provide an event that gets talented MMA fighters in the midwest discovered.

Fighters are expected from Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan, with a mission of giving undiscovered MMA talent a platform. Tickets for the event are on sale at  MilwaukeeMilkmen.com.

Among those on the card is Angelo Pettis, the 18-year-old younger cousin of Anthony who is still in high school. He's among the early fighters on the schedule of 12 bouts starting at 5:30 p.m.

“I fought in everything from a motorcycle dealership to a local bar," Anthony said of his upbringing before getting discovered by the UFC. "It inspired me to create a one-of-a-kind environment. Franklin Field is one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the region and offers a dynamic array of fan experiences other venues couldn’t provide. My vision is to make this the Midwest MMA Coachella and broadcast it to the world."

JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Anthony Pettis lines up MMA showcase at Milwaukee-area stadium