Antonio Carlos Junior is widely recognized for his exceptional grappling skills and considers jiu-jitsu his most significant asset in mixed martial arts. This core strength will remain a key factor as he prepares to face Karl Moore this Thursday in the opening round of the 2025 PFL light heavyweight grand prix in Orlando.
Known as “Shoeface,” Junior has secured submission victories in 12 of his 16 professional MMA wins, including five under the UFC banner. He aims to add Moore to his list of submission finishes; Moore has only been tapped out once in his 16 pro bouts.
Commenting on his opponent, Junior told MMA Fighting, “He is quite strategic and possesses good strength. He uses this to his advantage, often pushing opponents against the cage. While I don`t see him as exceptionally skilled, he is very consistent in his approach. Opponents like that can be quite dangerous. Every fight in this tournament is tough.”
Despite his grappling pedigree, the American Top Team product emphasized that he won`t solely focus on ground fighting and is prepared to utilize his stand-up abilities.
Junior explained his tactical thinking: “My plan involves movement and exploiting his weaknesses, which includes taking the fight to the ground. Jiu-jitsu remains my primary tool, and I aim for a submission. This will always be part of my strategy, but I refuse to be a predictable, one-dimensional fighter who forces grappling regardless of the situation. We will move and exchange strikes; I believe my striking is superior and I can manage the distance effectively. Nonetheless, he is still dangerous. In the light heavyweight division, you must stay vigilant constantly.”
Karl Moore`s only professional MMA defeat via submission came against UFC veteran Paul Craig, who finished him with a guillotine choke back in 2015 at BAMMA 22. Following this loss, the Irish light heavyweight rebounded, captured the Cage Warriors title, and joined Bellator in 2019, where he compiled four consecutive victories, leading to a title challenge against Corey Anderson.
“Shoeface,” however, expressed confidence that his own grappling abilities are at a significantly higher level.
Junior elaborated, “He hasn`t truly faced anyone with a jiu-jitsu level comparable to mine, except perhaps Paul Craig, but that was years ago. Significantly, his only submission defeat came against a jiu-jitsu practitioner. He also had a very competitive bout against my previous opponent, Alex Polizzi, which was difficult to score. His fight with Corey Anderson was solid. He demonstrates good cardio and forward pressure, but I don`t perceive him as having elite skills. He executes his actions competently. My focus is on remaining sharp and preventing him from controlling the pace or clinching excessively.”
If he secures a victory on Thursday, Junior will advance to face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Karl Albrektsson and Simeon Powell. The other finalist contending for the $500,000 grand prize will be determined from the matchups involving Phil Davis, Rob Wilkinson, Marcelo Nunes, and Sullivan Cauley.
Expressing his anticipation, Junior stated, “I am eager to compete and advance towards my objective of securing another championship belt by the end of the year.” He added that the PFL tournament structure, with frequent fights, suits him well as he doesn`t undergo significant weight cuts. He believes this is a greater challenge for larger light heavyweights who must cut weight every couple of months, making the process slightly less demanding for him, despite being one of the lighter competitors in the division.
Oliver Croft