Tag: Antonio Carlos Junior

Jeremy Stephens drawing from PFL debut setbacks of former UFC champs Anthony Pettis, Fabricio Werdum

Jeremy Stephens paid close attention to the PFL debuts of fellow former UFC fighters and used their experiences as a teaching point.

[autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] is well aware of the struggles former UFC fighters have experienced under the PFL banner.

At 2022 PFL 1, Stephens will make his debut against Clay Collard following his exit from the UFC, the place he called home since 2007. After 33 fights over 14 years, Stephens is entering the next chapter of his career with the PFL, and will carry the lessons learned from watching a pair of former UFC champions in their debuts with the promotion.

“Lil’ Heathen” is the latest of a few UFC veterans to make the switch to the promotion. Some have seen success, such as [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag], who became champion in 2021, but other high-profile signees struggled to secure victories in their debuts, such as former UFC champions [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] and [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag]. It’s something that Stephens is aware of and has used to stay grounded ahead of his own debut in PFL.

“The thing about MMA is I can draw from their experience,” Stephens told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a pre-fight news conference on Monday. “I can draw from Anthony’s experience inside the PFL. You know, he was getting paid a lot of money. I feel like they paid him too much dough and he sat back and thought he was gonna win on intimidation. That’s the experience that I’ve drawn from, something that I’ve learned. I’m fully prepared and in a very good battle with a game opponent.”

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Pettis couldn’t get it going against Collard in his debut at 2021 PFL 1, dropping a unanimous decision. Werdum’s PFL debut initially was ruled a knockout loss to Renan Ferreira at 2021 PFL 3, but after review by the commission, was overturned to a no contest.

Stephens believes his name and his track record inside the cage won’t mean much as he prepares to fight Collard on Wednesday. He plans to bring the same intensity he typically does while ensuring he has done everything possible to prepare for the bout.

“That’s all I need,” Stephens said. “I’m not one of these guys that’s going to sit back and think my highlight tape is going to scare people. That’s just not the case. I’m very well prepared and there’s really nothing more to do. I can’t really speak on anything, just watch how my actions show up on Wednesday.”

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2021 PFL Championship results: Antonio Carlos Junior snatches choke, $1 million prize

A former UFC fighter, “Shoeface” became PFL champion Wednesday in Florida.

[autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] saw his moment to snatch a choke, and with it a $1 million prize, in the 2021 PFL light heavyweight championship bout Wednesday in Hollywood, Fla.

In front of a passionate crowd in his adopted home state of Florida, Junior (13-5) submitted Norway’s [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (8-3) with a rear-naked choke at 3:49 of Round 1.

2021 PFL Championship took place at Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel. The main card aired on ESPN2/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.

After a handful of patient sequences from both men, Junior resorted to his bread and butter: the ground game. A successful takedown attempt from “Shoeface” landed him on the back of Hamlet. As Hamlet attempted to spin out of the body lock, he stood up.

That proved to be a mistake as Junior, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt maintained control and sunk in a standing rear-naked choke. The two fighters tumbled backward and the choke became deeper. Hamlet tapped shortly thereafter.

Junior, 31, wins a PFL title and a $1 million prize in his first season with the promotion. Prior to his UFC departure in early 2021, Junior competed 13 times under the promotion’s banner and compiled a 7-5 record with one no contest.

Once in PFL, Junior defeated Tom Lawlor and competed in a “no contest” against Vinny Magalhaes which ended in a groin strike. In the opening round of the playoffs, Junior defeated Emeliano Sordi via unanimous decision.

As for Hamlet, the 29-year-old went 1-1 in the 2021 PFL regular season before he won in the playoff semifinals against Cezar Ferreira, a fight that ended in controversial fashion.

The up-to-the-minute 2021 PFL Championship results include:

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Video: Kayla Harrison vs. Taylor Guardado, more face off at 2021 PFL Championship weigh-ins

Watch the pre-fight staredowns from the 2021 PFL Championship weigh-ins in Hollywood, Fla.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] might’ve done her final PFL staredown.

The two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and 2019 PFL champion squared off for the last time against her opponent [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] following Tuesday’s weigh-ins for 2021 PFL Championship. The two competitor are set to meet in the main event of Wednesday’s 2021 PFL Championship. They fight for the women’s lightweight title along with the $1 million prize.

Harrison (11-0) is set to become a free agent following her fight with Guardado. She has yet to revel wether she’ll re-sign with PFL or go else where.

The main card for PFL Championship airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET following the prelims on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. ET.

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Additionally other 18 fighters faced off including five other title bouts and four non-championship fights.

The staredowns include [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (welterweight final), [autotag]Abigail Montes[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag], [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (heavyweight final), [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (featherweight final), [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (light heavyweight final), [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag] (lightweight final).

Check out the pre-fight faceoffs in the video above.

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Now in the light heavyweight finals, Antonio Carlos Junior enjoying PFL format: ‘It’s working pretty well for me’

Antonio Carlos Junior, a 2021 PFL finalist, discusses his experience fighting under the PFL format.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – It’s safe to say [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] is a happy camper.

The winner of season three of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” finds himself in the 2021 PFL light heavyweight final, having defeated 2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi on the main card of Friday’s 2021 PFL Playoffs 3. Carlos Junior (12-5) defeated Sordi via unanimous decision, winning 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 on the judges’ scorecards.

Carlos Junior is set to take on Marthin Hamlet in the Oct. 27 final.

The 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The main card aired on ESPN2 and ESPN+ with the prelims exclusively on ESPN+.

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Watch Carlos Junior in the video above talk about his win over Sordi, his experience under the PFL format, his upcoming final bout against Hamlet, and more.

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2021 PFL Playoffs 3 live and official results

Follow along with live and official results of 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 featuring Brendan Loughnane vs. Movlid Khaybulaev in the main event.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 takes place at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday and you can follow along with live and official results on MMA Junkie.

The main card airs on ESPN 2 and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET following prelims exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.

The final week of the PFL Playoffs will determine the finalists for the featherweight and light heavyweight seasons.

In the main event, [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (21-3) takes on undefeated [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] (17-0-1) in a semifinal matchup of the 145-pound season. The other semifinal bout takes place in the co-main event, as former UFC fighter [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (19-6) takes on [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (16-4).

The semifinals of the PFL light heavyweight season take place on the main card with [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (11-5) taking on 2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi (23-8-1), and [autotag]Cezar Ferreira[/autotag] (14-9) facing [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (7-2).

The full 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 results are below:

Main Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
  • Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins
  • Antonio Carlos Junior  vs. Emiliano Sordi
  • Cezar Ferreira vs. Marthin Hamlet

Preliminary card (ESPN+)

  • Sheymon Moraes vs. Lazar Stojadinovic
  • Chris Camozzi vs. Cory Hendricks
  • Anthony Dizy  vs. Jesse Stirn
  • Jason Knight vs. Bobby Moffett
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Carl Deaton III
  • Brandon Jenkins vs. Jacob Kilburn

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Video: 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 cermonial weigh-ins (5 p.m. ET)

Watch the 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 weigh-ins live at 5:00 p.m. ET.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The last week of the 2021 PFL playoffs is underway, and you catch the weigh-ins for the event on MMA Junkie.

All 20 competitors are set to step on the scale to make the required limit for their respective bouts at Thursday’s 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 weigh-ins at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

In the main event, Brendan Loughnane takes on undefeated Movlid Khaybulaev in a semifinal matchup of the featherweight season. The other bout of the 145-pounds season goes down in the co-main event, as former UFC fighter Chris Wade takes on Bubba Jenkins.

Additionally, the semifinals of the PFL light heavyweight season go down on the main card with Antonio Carlos Junior taking on 2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi, and Cezar Ferreira facing Marthin Hamlet.

Watch the live weigh-ins in the video above.

Main Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
  • Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins
  • Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Emiliano Sordi
  • Cezar Ferreira vs. Marthin Hamlet

Preliminary card (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Sheymon Moraes vs. Lazar Stojadinovic
  • Chris Camozzi vs. Cory Hendricks
  • Anthony Dizy vs. Jesse Stirn
  • Jason Knight vs. Bobby Moffett
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Carl Deaton III
  • Brandon Jenkins vs. Jacob Kilburn

2021 PFL playoffs: Rory MacDonald, Kayla Harrison get semifinal bookings

Check out the full lineups for the 2021 PFL playoff events, which kick off in August.

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The next chapter in the 2021 PFL season kicks off in August with playoff action.

After the conclusion of its regular season events in June, the promotion took a brief hiatus to allow the athletes on the roster to recover and focus on the next step, which centers around securing a place in the championship round for an opportunity at $1 million.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., will play host to the playoff round, with events set for Aug. 13, Aug. 19 and Aug. 27 that air on ESPN or ESPN2 as well as stream on ESPN+.

“No sports league can match the thrilling action Professional Fighters League will deliver this August as the final four fighters for each weight division will compete for a spot in the $1 million world championship bout,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray in a press release. “The only playoff format in the sport gives every fighter a chance. The more than 550 million MMA fans around the world are going to witness unmatched intensity during every fight in the PFL SmartCage.”

Check below for the lineup for the 2021 PFL Playoffs, where notables such as Rory MacDonald, Kayla Harrison and more are scheduled to compete.

2021 PFL 5 video highlights: Welterweight, light heavyweight playoffs set

Check out the video highlights from Thursday’s 2021 PFL 5, where the postseason was cemented at welterweight and light heavyweight.

The PFL returned Thursday with postseason spots on the line in the welterweight and light heavyweight divisions.

There was a big surprise in the 2021 PFL 5 main event when [autotag]Gleison Tibau[/autotag] upset former Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] with a split decision. MacDonald derided the result as a robbery after the fight – but courtesy of a first-round finish in his first fight of the season, he still had enough points to reach the playoffs despite the loss. Tibau’s win was worth 3 points, which wasn’t enough to make the postseason.

[autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] found himself in an interesting situation, too. He took a unanimous decision from [autotag]Nikolay Aleksakhin[/autotag] in the welterweight co-main event – but couldn’t earn any points in the standings because he missed weight. In fact, he was docked a point for that infraction. But because not enough fighters below him in the standings did enough to pass him, he still will fight in the four-man bracket to go after a second $1 million prize.

Joining MacDonald (6 points) and Cooper (5) in the welterweight postseason will be top seed [autotag]Joan Zeferino[/autotag] (8) and No. 4 seed [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (5).

In light heavyweight fights on the main card, [autotag]Chris Camozzi[/autotag] upset [autotag]Cezar Ferreira[/autotag]. But Ferreira’s 6-point finish in his first fight remained enough to get him to the postseason, and Camozzi’s 3 points from his unanimous decision wasn’t enough to get him in after a loss in his opening fight. And [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] fought to a draw with [autotag]Dan Spohn[/autotag], worth just 1 point each. But that was enough to give Sordi 4 points – and a tiebreaker over Cory Hendricks, who had a 4-point finish of [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] on the prelims.

Despite the loss, Hamlet still made the playoffs with 5 points. Joining him are [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (7) atop the 205-pound table, Ferreira (6) and Sordi (4).

Check out the highlights from 2021 PFL 5 in the video above.

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Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau headlines 2021 PFL 5 on June 17

Rory MacDonald will serve as the headliner for his second straight PFL event.

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] will serve as the headliner for his second straight PFL event.

On Wednesday, PFL officials announced the lineup for the second round of 2021 regular-season bouts for welterweights and light heavyweights, which take place at 2021 PFL 5 on June 17.  In the main event, MacDonald (22-6-1) faces fellow ex-UFC fighter [autotag]Gleison Tibau[/autotag] (35-15) at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

MacDonald made good in his promotional debut, when he submitted Curtis Millender in the first round at 2021 PFL 2. The win placed the former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC title challenger at the top of the season standings, alongside reigning PFL champion [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag], who also notched six points when he choked out Jason Ponet in the co-main event.

Cooper (21-7-1) will serve as the co-main event once again when he takes on [autotag]Nikolay Aleksakhin[/autotag] (26-5-1). Also on the main card is 2019 PFL light heavyweight champ [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] (23-8), who takes on Dana White’s Contender Series alum [autotag]Dan Spohn[/autotag] (18-8). Finally, leader on the light heavyweight board [autotag]Cezar Ferreira[/autotag] (14-8) will look to build off his 37-second knockout over Nick Roehrick when he faces [autotag]Chris Camozzi[/autotag] (25-15).

A grapplers delight between [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (11-5-1), who submitted Tom Lawlor in his promotional debut, and 2018 light heavyweight finalist [autotag]Vinny Magalhaes[/autotag] (19-12-1) will serve as the featured prelim.

The full 2021 PFL 5 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2, 9 p.m. E.T.)

  • Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau
  • Ray Cooper III vs. Nikolay Aleksakhin
  • Emiliano Sordi vs. Dan Spohn
  • Cezar Ferreira vs. Chris Camozzi

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. E.T.)

  • Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Vinny Magalhaes
  • Marthin Hamlet vs. Cory Hendricks
  • Jason Ponet vs. Joao Zeferino
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Curtis Millender
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Jordan Young
  • Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Sadibou Sy

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2021 PFL 2 video: Antonio Carlos Junior submits Tom Lawlor in first

Tom Lawlor looked like he might give Antonio Carlos Junior some fits early in their Thursday fight. Then Junior turned the table on him.

[autotag]Tom Lawlor[/autotag] looked like he might give [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] some fits early in their Thursday fight.

Then Junior (11-5) turned the table on Lawlor (10-8) and submitted him with 17 seconds left in the first round of their light heavyweight bout at 2021 PFL 2.

Lawlor was able to work for a guillotine choke from his back in the first round, and it appeared to be tight – but not tight enough to have the Brazilian in too much trouble. After Junior got his head out, he was able to pass to full mount.

In mount, Junior worked for an arm-triangle choke, and when that wasn’t there, he jumped for a guillotine choke while nearly letting Lawlor back to his feet. It didn’t take long for Lawlor to tap, giving Junior a key six points in the light heavyweight season standings.

Check out Junior’s finish in the video below from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

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