UFC Champ Anthony Pettis -- I'd Kick Vladimir Putin's Ass ... So What If He's a 9th Degree Black Belt!?

UFC champ Anthony Pettis is a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo. Vladimir Putin is a 9th.

So, who would win in a street fight? Don't bet on red.

Pettis -- who's fighting Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 this weekend -- was out in NYC this week when he told us the 6 degrees of martial arts separation wouldn't matter if push ever came to shove.

For the record, here's how the tale of the tape would read ...

Anthony Pettis:
UFC Lightweight Champion
27-years-old
3rd degree Taekwondo black belt
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 155

Vladimir Putin:
Russian President
62-years-old
9th degree Taekwondo black belt
Height: 5'7"
Weight: Classified

The clip is awesome -- Pettis also tells us he spends time training at the same center as NFL superstar J.J. Watt ... and raves about how the guy CRUSHES weights in the gym.