A win in PFL Salt Lake City means Antonio Carlos Jr. will advance to the light heavyweight playoffs, and the 2021 champion admits it was a huge relief to start the year with a statement win.
“Kara de Zapato” returned to the cage in April this year after a nearly two-year hiatus due to a knee injury and an appearance on a popular reality TV show. Brother Brazil The year is 2023. The American Top Team athlete stopped Simon Bjorn via rear-naked choke in his opening bout in April of this year and will face Bellator veteran Alex Polizzi this Friday.
“I'm very happy with my performance,” Junior said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “It was exactly how I wanted it to be – a submission against a tough opponent. I came out unscathed and ready for my next fight. I'm very happy and it felt like a truck was lifted off my shoulders. Fighting means the world to me.” [Big Brother] “It was a very intense experience, but this is where I love it. This is where I feel happy.”
of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 The winner is currently fifth in the PFL's light heavyweight season standings, and while other 205-pound fighters have finished earlier, the fact that Rob Wilkinson and Josh Silveira face off on Friday means a simple draw will be enough for the junior to advance.
“I always go into a fight looking to win and looking for an opportunity to get the win,” said Jr. “Submissions, knockouts are great, especially in a back-to-back format like the PFL. It's better to win fast and not get hurt, but it's hard to say I'm going into a fight to knock someone out in the first round. You have to create opportunities and make the most of them. That's what happened last time and it might happen again.”
Polizzi joined the PFL after a 4-3 record in Bellator, which included a win over former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho, but has found himself in a tough spot with consecutive losses to Yoel Romero, Karl Moore and Impa Kasanganay. Junior is the favorite to reach the semifinals, but doesn't expect the bout against Polizzi to be an easy one.
“He's an LFA champion, he's competed in Bellator against tough guys and has a good folk wrestling style, but I think he'll be a good matchup for me,” said Jr. “He needs to perform well in the first round to make the playoffs, so I think he'll perform well in the first round. I'll be on my guard early and not force the game on him. I'll be ready to counter every attack he throws at me and get another win.”
