Antonio Carlos Junior wants no introductions with regards to his grappling division and can endlessly see jiu-jitsu as his greatest software in combined martial arts. That received’t change Thursday night time, when he faces Karl Moore within the first spherical of the 2025 PFL gentle heavyweight grand prix in Orlando.
“Shoeface” scored submissions in 12 of his 16 MMA victories, 5 of these underneath the UFC banner, and goals to make Moore faucet for the second time in 16 professional bouts.
“He’s very strategic and robust,” Junior informed MMA Preventing. “He tries to make use of that in his favor, to place stress in opposition to the cage. I don’t see him with somebody with nice skills, however he’s very constant in every little thing he does, you understand? Guys like which can be very harmful. There are not any straightforward fights within the event.”
Having mentioned that, Junior the American Prime Staff product received’t rush issues to the bottom and ignore his stand-up abilities.
“I imagine I’ve to maneuver round and discover his weaknesses, go to the bottom,” Junior mentioned. “It’s my greatest weapon, in fact, and we’ll use jiu-jitsu to get a submission. That may all the time be my technique, however I can’t be a one-dimensional man that can drive that at any prices. We’ll transfer round, commerce on the toes, as a result of I even assume my hanging is best than his. I can preserve the space higher, however he’s harmful. We’re speaking about gentle heavyweights and you understand now we have to be alert always on this division.”
UFC fighter Paul Craig was the one man to ever drive Moore to faucet in MMA, choking him out with a guillotine again in 2015 at BAMMA 22. The Irish gentle heavyweight bounced again to win the Cage Warriors belt two years later and finally be part of Bellator in 2019, when he received 4 in a row to problem Corey Anderson for the belt.
“Shoeface” believes his grappling is on one other degree, although.
“He’s by no means fought anybody with comparable jiu-jitsu,” Junior mentioned. “Solely Paul Craig, actually, and that was a very long time in the past. And when he fought a jiu-jitsu man, he was submitted. He had an in depth battle with Alex Polizzi, my final opponent, and it may have gone both approach. He had battle with Corey Anderson. He has good cardio, he strikes ahead, however I don’t see nice abilities there. He does issues well-done. I’ve to be alert and never let him stall.”
If victorious Thursday, Junior will advance to tackle the winner of the quarterfinal conflict between Karl Albrektsson and Simeon Powell. The opposite finalist for the $500,000 prize shall be determined between Phil Davis, Rob Wilkinson, Marcelo Nunes and Sullivan Cauley.
“I can’t wait to show myself in that cage and transfer one step nearer to my purpose, to finish this 12 months wit one other belt,” Junior mentioned. “Doing one battle after the opposite is sweet for me as a result of I don’t reduce a lot weight, and I imagine heavier guys find yourself struggling extra having to chop weight each two months. It makes issues a bit of bit simpler for me, despite the fact that I’m one of many smallest guys right here.”
