CBS 58's Hometown Athlete: Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis, one of Milwaukee MMA's best

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- "One quote that he told me when I first started was, 'The best revenge is massive success,'" Anthony Pettis says.

"And I've lived my life by that. In everything I do, from business to relationships, to fighting itself. So yeah, I give all the respect and all the props to Duke. Like without him, none of this would be here."

Anthony "Showtime" Pettis carries on after the loss of longtime coach and mentor Duke Roufus.

"He didn't have to take me under his wing and make sure that I got to the top of everything I wanted to do with my life," Pettis says. "And knowing that he's gone now, it's hard, man. Like it's like one of those things where I feel like I lost my dad all over again. Milwaukee's given me so much, but it's also taken so much. And even going to his gym...like, you know, you expect to hear his voice. His coaching. His, he was the glue to that gym. And now that he's gone, it's just like...yeah, it's sad, man, it's sad."

Now approaching the age of 39, Showtime will carry the MMA mantle in Milwaukee, giving others a platform.

"Me giving these guys an opportunity," Pettis says, "I probably have to put on my coaching hat a little more. Now that he's not here. But I think I'm doing pretty well. Like his vision and goal of what martial arts could be, Milwaukee is a hub."

Anthony's legacy Is one from tears to triumph.

"Obviously, like, I've had my tragedies here," Pettis says. "Losing my dad, but like, that lit that fire. You know, meeting Duke. Like everything happened for a reason. From the Wheaties box to the World of Jenks TV show to winning the world title in the Bradley Center."