Antonio Carlos Junior: Quick finish in PFL return ‘lifted a truck off my shoulders’
A victory at PFL Salt Lake City means Antonio Carlos Junior will advance to the light heavyweight playoffs. The 2021 season winner admits that kicking off the year with a statement win was a huge relief.
“Cara de Sapato” returned to the cage this past April after a near two-year layoff from a knee injury and his involvement in the popular reality TV show Big Brother Brasil in 2023. The American Top Team athlete stopped Simon Biyong with a rear-naked choke in the opening round this past April and now faces Bellator veteran Alex Polizzi this Friday.
“I was very happy with my performance,” Junior said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “It was just the way I wanted it to be, a submission against a tough opponent. I came out uninjured and ready to prepare for the next one. I was very happy, I felt like I lifted a truck off my shoulders. Fighting is my universe. [Big Brother] was a very intense experience, but this is where I like to be. This is where I feel happy.”
The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 winner is currently No. 5 in the PFL’s light heavyweight season standings as every other 205-pounder got a quicker finish, but the fact that Rob Wilkinson and Josh Silveira are facing off Friday means that a simple draw would be enough for Junior to advance.
“I always go in there looking for the win, looking for openings to come out victorious,” Junior said. “A submission, a knockout, that’s great, especially in a format like PFL’s when you fight back to back. You win fast and don’t get hurt, that’s better for you, but it’s hard to say I’m going there to knock him out in the first round. You have to create opportunities and make the most of them. That’s what happened last time, and that’s what may happen again.”
Polizzi joined PFL after a 4-3 run in Bellator that included a win over former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho, but now has his back against the wall following consecutive defeats to Yoel Romero, Karl Moore and Impa Kasanganay. Junior is the odds-on favorite to advance to the semifinals, but doesn’t expect Polizzi to be an easy fight.
“He was the LFA champion and went to Bellator and fought tough guys and has a good folk wrestling style, but I think it could be a good match-up for me,” Junior said. “I believe he’ll come out strong for the first-round finish since he needs that to advance to the playoffs. I’ll be alert early and not let him impose his game. We’ll be ready to counter every attack he tries and come out victorious one more time.”