Antonio Carlos Junior Shows Strength In All-Around Package As He Claims World Tournament Title

Sullivan Cauley has competed in wrestling for nearly his whole life, moving to Arizona to join collegiate wrestling and start a full-time MMA career. Cauley is a two-time Arizona Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and finished second in the 2019 IFMA Muay Thai World Championships. Cauley went through Alex Polizzi and Phil Davis to reach tonight’s final bout.

Antonio Carlos Junior won the PFL Light Heavyweight Championship in 2021, and now he goes for his second piece of PFL hardware tonight. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, “Shoeface” has been an IBJJF World Champion (Gi and No-Gi) at the brown and black belt levels. He reached tonight’s final with wins over Karl Moore and Simeon Powell.

Who will be crowned the 2025 PFL Light Heavyweight World Tournament Champion?

Round 1

Cauley tries to come out quick with aggression with a couple of combinations. Carlos Junior drops Cauley with a right hand! He jumps on and starts to hammer away! Cauley gets up and tries to get to the fence. Left hand by Carlos Junior as he continues to come forward. Front kick by Carlos Junior. Cauley lands a right hand. Stunning right hand by Carlos Junior! Front kick by Carlos Junior. Cauley is busted open around his nose. Cauley with a pair of left hands. Cauley with some left hands. Carlos Junior throws a right. Left hand by Carlos Junior. Low kick by Carlos Junior. Cauley cracks Carlos Junior with a right hand, and now he’s down!

Carlos Junior gets up, but Cauley pins him against the fence for a few seconds. Left and a right hand from Carlos Junior. Left hand from Cauley. Front kick by Carlos Junior. Right hand by Cauley. High kick by Carlos Junior is blocked just narrowly. Combination and a round kick by Cauley. Strong combination by Carlos Junior, who tells Cauley to bring it! Right hand by Carlos Junior. Carlos Junior with a pair of jabs. Carlos Junior wobbles Cauley again with a right hand! The round ends with the two against the fence.

Round 2

Carlos Junior with a left hand. Cauley with a strong right hand lands on “Shoeface,” and he’s backing him up. Right hand to the body by Cauley. Left hand by Cauley. Front kick by Cauley. Strong right hand by Cauley. Carlos Junior is claiming he got poked in the eye, and he’s told to fight on! Cauley rings him up a few more times. Time is called. Replay shows it’s a headbutt. The referee warns both fighters. As the fight resumes, two straights and a head kick wobble Cauley!

The action goes to the fence, where Carlos Junior scores a takedown. Carlos Junior has a hold of the legs. Carlos Junior lands a knee to the ribs. Carlos Junior is searching for the back, and he gets there with the body triangle. He’s hunting for the choke. It’s in! It’s tight! There’s the tap!

ANTONIO CARLOS JR. FINISHES SULLIVAN CAULEY 😱

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 22, 2025

Antonio Carlos Junior has a season title, and now a World Tournament title on his mantle!

OFFICIAL RESULT

Antonio Carlos Junior def. Sullivan Cauley via second-round submission (rear-naked choke, 3:44)