Andre Petroski’s Battle Against Addiction a Key Part of his Journey to UFC 292

Andre Petroski fights Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 292–though that bout cannot compare to his battle with heroin

Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.

Andre Petroski enters UFC 292 with a purpose.

He won’t be alone when he competes on the early prelims in a grappler’s delight against Gerald Meerschaert.

Petroski will be fighting for every single person who has battled an addiction. He will fight for those who are still here, and those who are a cherished memory of their loved ones. He will fight for the forgotten, as well as the ones who are still in the fight of their life.

And no matter what happens against Meerschaert it’s 292, Petroski will make sure that everyone he is standing for is victorious.

“I’m lucky to still be here,” says Petroski. “I hope I can offer a little inspiration.”

Five years ago, Petroski plummeted. His nadir came when he overdosed on a car ride back from Philadelphia. The person he was with called for help, and he barely survived, somehow escaping becoming another statistic to a deadly drug.

Soon after, Petroski was given the option by a judge to sit in a jail cell or seek help. The idea of asking for help had always seemed foreign to Petroski. A proud wrestler who won his first tournament at the age of four, Petroski knew how to look out for himself. At least he thought he did. As he sat in a cold, damp cell, he was hit with the realization that he desperately needed help.

“When I started using, I said, ‘I’ll stop tomorrow,’” says Petroski. “Then it was, ‘I’ll manage this.’ I couldn’t. I needed help. When I was sick in a jail cell, that’s when I asked God for help.”

Not only did Petroski find help, he embraced it. He went to a treatment facility, got clean, and his life got better and better and better.

“I prayed for the life I have today,” says Petroski. “I really am blessed.”

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One of the sources of light in his ongoing journey has been Kayla Harrison, the PFL star and Olympic gold medalist. Despite living a few states apart, Harrison is a dedicated friend, extending positivity to Petroski in his ongoing journey.

“I have experienced rock bottom, and I can tell from my friendship with Andre that he has, too,” says Harrison. “What he’s overcome and what he’s beaten is so much bigger than anyone he’ll ever beat in the cage.”

Harrison is a sexual assault survivor. She received light during her darkest moments from people who genuinely cared about her well-being and her recovery, and she is honored to offer support and friendship to Petroski.

“One of the things that changed my life was I had people who believed in me when I was nothing,” says Harrison. “It was the people who cared about my character more than my accolades.

“This is a chance to help someone who I think is a good person. The people I want to surround myself with are champions in life, and that’s why I’m blessed to call Andre a friend.”

Petroski (9-1) has won all four of his UFC fights. He’ll look to extend that to five on Saturday against Meerschaert (35-16). But even if he eventually wins UFC gold, his greatest accomplishment still exists outside of the cage.

“My daughter’s never saw me struggle with addiction,” says Petroski, who will be with his daughter next week to celebrate her fourth birthday. “I truly believe fighting is the greatest job in the world, but being a better father is more important. It’s easy to get caught up and lose track of that when you’re training and fighting. But there is nothing more important than being her dad.”

Petroski will never face a more dangerous opponent than his addiction. He is honored to share the experience, hoping that it will offer even a shred of hope to someone who needs it.

“I remember hearing Jared Gordon’s story on Ariel Helwani and thinking, ‘If he did it, maybe I could, too,’” says Petroski. “So I know it’s my obligation to share my story, too.”

On the last fight of the early prelims, in a middleweight bout against a submission specialist, fight fans will witness a triumph of the human spirit when Petroski enters the cage. He is making the argument that he is the best grappler in the division, which will be strengthened if he can defeat Meerschaert.

Petroski is also fighting for all those who cannot be there to fight for themselves. That, he believes, is a winning battle.

“Coming from where I was, we can’t lose,” says Petroski. “My rock bottom is incomparable to losing a fight. Every day is a win.”

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Aljamain Sterling preparing to leave bantamweight division

If UFC 292 is Aljamain Sterling’s finale at bantamweight, then the fight world is one step closer to a featherweight title bout pitting Sterling against Alexander Volkanovski.

The move to featherweight would be beneficial for Sterling. His weight cut would not be as taxing, and he would not have to concern himself with a title bout against teammate/close friend Merab Dvalishvili.

Sterling has nothing left to prove at bantamweight. With or without a victory this Saturday at UFC 292 against Sean O’Malley, Sterling’s three successful title defenses are more than any other bantamweight in UFC history. A fight against Volkanovski is a legacy fight. If Sterling defeated Volkanovski, it would place him on an entirely new level.

For Volkanovski, this is exactly what he needs. He continues to rip through the featherweight division, and he made quick work last month of interim champ Yair Rodriguez. Volkanovski wants to be known as the greatest to ever step in the cage–a victory against Sterling would help him a long way in achieving that.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.