Anthony Pettis waited what must've felt like a lifetime for a chance at round six. As it turns out, that's all he'd need.

With the record for most consecutive UFC lightweight title defenses hanging in the balance, Pettis brought Benson Henderson's championship reign to a stunning close on Saturday night. Working from the bottom, the 26-year-old Milwaukee native snatched a deep armbar to coax a verbal tapout and steal away Henderson's belt late in the opening frame of UFC 164's main event.

The moment served as long-awaited vindication for Pettis, who's championship aspirations have been continually derailed over recent years, either by injury or by circumstance. What lies ahead for Pettis isn't certain, whether it's UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo or the next man in line at lightweight. But regardless, there's a new sheriff in charge of the UFC's toughest division, and his name is "Showtime."

Am I like alive ? Am I dreaming ? What the fuck — Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) September 1, 2013

I'm star struck by my own brother! #TeamPettis — Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) September 1, 2013

Great night of fights! @Showtimepettis lets do this — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) September 1, 2013

And congrats btw goes to @Showtimepettis you earned your night and deserve it. — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) September 1, 2013

Woooooooowwww, yeeeaaaahhhh Pettis — Igor Pokrajac UFC (@igorpokrajac) September 1, 2013

@BensonHenderson talked all that shit about breaking Anderson's record and gets finished should've just took one fight at a time #gotcocky — Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) September 1, 2013

Damn! Pettis striking is so crisp. Who would have bet him winning by armbar? Henderson has been competing a lot in jiu Jitsu recently @ufc — Tom Kong Watson (@TomKongWatson) September 1, 2013

Showtime is the man!! That was sick — MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) September 1, 2013

MMA is the most unpredictable sport in the world. — Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) September 1, 2013

I hope have my chance for the title shot soon!!! For sure I will be ready!!! — Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) September 1, 2013

Pettis should be able to upgrade his chain with this win bonus #bling — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) September 1, 2013

Impressive!!! Side note to fighters that are assholes. That's what guys with class do. Not try to break your shit or deny that you tapped. — Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) September 1, 2013

Potential Conspiracy ! Did Jim Jones from dip-set show up on benson's place and fight You be the judge !?!? pic.twitter.com/3SEJm52ce9 — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) September 1, 2013

Wow @Showtimepettis with arm bar win and not a flying kick win! Awesome! Great job! — Cung Le (@CungLe185) September 1, 2013

Congrats @showtimepettis love ya brother! New champ! — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) September 1, 2013

Wow. — Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) September 1, 2013

Damn that ArmBar had a cigar in its mouth ... gangsta #UFC164 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) September 1, 2013

Wow @ufc main event! Didnt see that coming! Good win for Pettis against a good opponent. — Daniel Pineda (@DanielPitPineda) September 1, 2013

@BensonHenderson looking forward to the trilogy. True champ, always brings it. — Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) September 1, 2013

Low key when Anthony sleeps I'm wearing the belt . Both of them WEC and UFC ! And the RFA belt lmao — Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) September 1, 2013

The champ @Showtimepettis walks out with the belt around his waist and his mom by his side. #UFC164 pic.twitter.com/8YLNP3ZMtT — UFC (@ufc) September 1, 2013

BARNETT IS BACK

The stoppage was fast but josh was way ahead in the fight. I think it was over honestly. — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 1, 2013

Tough call for the ref. He could have let Barnett/Mir go a moment longer, but he wasn't wrong for stoping it either. — George Sotiropoulos (@georgesots) September 1, 2013

Fucking ridiculous stoppage!!!! The guys with experience make mistakes. That guy had no business being in the Co Main event! — Dana White (@danawhite) September 1, 2013

Wtf is up with these stoppages tonight?! Barnett liked great but geezus let fighters fight — Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) September 1, 2013

Why boo him? He woulda KO him for sure had it not been stopped... — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 1, 2013

Good old brawl from Josh — Igor Pokrajac UFC (@igorpokrajac) September 1, 2013

Don't get me wrong. I picked Barnett to win and I think he still would have. I just think Co Main event in UFC should have gone a little mor — Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) September 1, 2013

MENDES MAKES IT FOUR STRAIGHT

Chad looked incredible tonight — Dana White (@danawhite) September 1, 2013

"@tconn2: @ChuckLiddell Chuck do you think that @chadmendes deserves a title shot with his performance?" I'd like to see it — Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) September 1, 2013

Is it just me or does @chadmendes make anyone else think of a 145lb. @MikeChandlerMMA ? #UFC164 — Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) September 1, 2013

That a baby @chadmendes!!! Looked great. TITLE SHOT!!!! — TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) September 1, 2013

Mendes looked tired until he got kicked in the nuts. Guida should have not shot...he clearly was not going to get the take down. #UFC164 — Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) September 1, 2013

Mendes landed some good shots and dropped Guida and yves stopped the fight. I call early stoppage as Guida was still moving and getting up — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) September 1, 2013

Very nice Mendez I say u deserve a title shot 👊 see u down the road ✌@ufc — Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) September 1, 2013

Always a fan of @clayguida but @chadmendes look good tonight good game plan. props to @DUANEBANGCOM — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) September 1, 2013

I am thoroughly impressed by chad mendes! Impressive! — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 1, 2013

Money looked good but that stoppage I thought was a little quick — Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) September 1, 2013

Mendes is looking scary! So fundamentally sound. Was patient & allowed knockout to materialize. #ufc164 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 1, 2013

On snap I would not wanna be hit by @chadmendes........again — Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) September 1, 2013

SHUFFLIN' BIG BEN

Oooo do you see the head movement!!! I like it — Ivan Menjivar ufc (@Ivanmenjivar) September 1, 2013

This is the prob with allowing a bigger man to back u up. Vera allowed Rothwell to get back into the fight & made the cage smaller. #ufc164 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 1, 2013

Damn it. I lost the bet @JonnyBones #UFC164 — John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) September 1, 2013

Shoot @verafied youre a warrior. phenomenol first 2 rds. Love you man — Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) September 1, 2013

I was saying he shoulda done that from rd 1 — Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) September 1, 2013

Well Rothwell's seizure just worked ! #UFC164 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) September 1, 2013

Still like Vera at heavyweight tho. Vera has a ton of talent. Big win & comeback for a game Rothwell. #ufc164 #heart #power — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 1, 2013

LOL @rothwellfighter had your chance a yr ago but you magically sprained your little toe and now you want to be given something I've earned. — Travis Browne (@travisbrowneMMA) September 1, 2013

I'm looking forward, not back.. You have some catching up to do son. — Travis Browne (@travisbrowneMMA) September 1, 2013

Victory!!! @ufc 164 thank you everyone for the love and support!! #UFC164 pic.twitter.com/eemF9gCbb4 — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) September 1, 2013

POIRIER GUTS IT OUT

Omg this fight is insane! Could've been over 10 times already! — Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) September 1, 2013

Oooo round o the year — Ivan Menjivar ufc (@Ivanmenjivar) September 1, 2013

That was the sickest triangle escape I've ever seen . Bravo Dustin #UFC164 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) September 1, 2013

Glad to see Poirier win I like his style. #toughassdude — Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) September 1, 2013

That fight makes me proud to be in that weight class! — Samuel Sicilia (@SamSiciliaMMA) September 1, 2013

Koch worked on a comeback in the 3rd earning the round but should be 2-1 Poirier. Still nervous considering the judging tonight. #ufc164 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 1, 2013

I might pee on myself!!! #UFC164 — Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) September 1, 2013

Congrats gents that was an awesome fight all around. @DustinPoirier @NEWBREED04 — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 1, 2013

Just wanna apologize to all my KOCHEADS out there. Couldn't pull the trigger. Congrats to @DustinPoirier hell of a fighter. Great fight man. — Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) September 1, 2013