Antonio Carlos Junior needs no introductions when it comes to his grappling department and will forever see jiu-jitsu as his biggest tool in mixed martial arts. That won’t change Thursday night, when he faces Karl Moore in the first round of the 2025 PFL light heavyweight grand prix in Orlando.
“Shoeface” scored submissions in 12 of his 16 MMA victories, five of those under the UFC banner, and aims to make Moore tap for the second time in 16 pro bouts.
“He’s very strategic and strong,” Junior told MMA Fighting. “He tries to use that in his favor, to put pressure against the cage. I don’t see him with someone with great abilities, but he’s very consistent in everything he does, you know? Guys like that are very dangerous. There are no easy fights in the tournament.”
Having said that, Junior the American Top Team product won’t rush things to the ground and ignore his stand-up skills.
“I believe I have to move around and explore his weaknesses, go to the ground,” Junior said. “It’s my biggest weapon, of course, and we’ll use jiu-jitsu to get a submission. That will always be my strategy, but I can’t be a one-dimensional guy that will force that at any costs. We’ll move around, trade on the feet, because I even think my striking is better than his. I can maintain the distance better, but he’s dangerous. We’re talking about light heavyweights and you know we have to be alert at all times in this division.”
UFC fighter Paul Craig was the only man to ever force Moore to tap in MMA, choking him out with a guillotine back in 2015 at BAMMA 22. The Irish light heavyweight bounced back to win the Cage Warriors belt two years later and eventually join Bellator in 2019, when he won four in a row to challenge Corey Anderson for the belt.
“Shoeface” believes his grappling is on another level, though.
“He’s never fought anyone with similar jiu-jitsu,” Junior said. “Only Paul Craig, really, and that was a long time ago. And when he fought a jiu-jitsu guy, he was submitted. He had a close fight with Alex Polizzi, my last opponent, and it could have gone either way. He had a good fight with Corey Anderson. He has good cardio, he moves forward, but I don’t see great skills there. He does things well-done. I have to be alert and not let him stall.”
If victorious Thursday, Junior will advance to take on the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Karl Albrektsson and Simeon Powell. The other finalist for the $500,000 prize will be decided between Phil Davis, Rob Wilkinson, Marcelo Nunes and Sullivan Cauley.
“I can’t wait to prove myself in that cage and move one step closer to my goal, to end this year wit another belt,” Junior said. “Doing one fight after the other is good for me because I don’t cut much weight, and I believe heavier guys end up suffering more having to cut weight every two months. It makes things a little bit easier for me, even though I’m one of the smallest guys here.”
