Antonio Carlos Jr., widely recognized for his top-tier jiu-jitsu, considers it his primary strength in mixed martial arts. This will remain true as he faces Karl Moore in the opening round of the 2025 PFL light heavyweight grand prix in Orlando.
“Shoeface” has secured 12 of his 16 MMA victories via submission, including five under the UFC banner. He aims to add Moore to that list, who has only tapped once in his 16 professional fights.
Junior described Moore as a strategic and physically strong opponent who effectively uses pressure, particularly against the cage. While not seeing him as having exceptional individual skills, Junior noted Moore`s dangerous consistency in his actions, emphasizing that there are no easy opponents in the tournament format.
Despite his grappling prowess, the American Top Team fighter stressed he won`t solely rely on taking the fight to the ground. He intends to incorporate his stand-up game.
Junior explained his strategy involves movement to exploit Moore`s weaknesses, including seeking opportunities to grapple. While jiu-jitsu remains his most potent tool for securing submissions, he stated he cannot be a predictable, one-dimensional fighter who forces grappling exchanges regardless of the situation. He plans to engage in striking, confident in his ability to outbox Moore and maintain distance effectively, while remaining acutely aware of the dangers inherent in the light heavyweight division.
The only fighter to ever submit Moore in MMA was UFC veteran Paul Craig, who finished him with a guillotine choke back in 2015. Moore rebounded from that loss, winning the Cage Warriors title two years later before joining Bellator in 2019, where a four-fight win streak led him to challenge Corey Anderson for the belt.
“Shoeface” believes his jiu-jitsu is currently operating at a level Moore hasn`t recently encountered.
He pointed out that Moore hasn`t faced anyone with a grappling pedigree similar to his own, aside from Paul Craig many years ago, which resulted in a submission loss for Moore. Junior also noted Moore`s close fight with his previous opponent, Alex Polizzi, which could have gone either way, and a competitive bout against Corey Anderson. While acknowledging Moore`s good cardio and forward pressure, Junior feels his overall skills are not elite, making it crucial to stay vigilant and prevent Moore from stifling the action.
If victorious, Junior would advance to face the winner of the quarterfinal bout between Karl Albrektsson and Simeon Powell. The other side of the bracket includes contenders like Phil Davis, Rob Wilkinson, Marcelo Nunes, and Sullivan Cauley, all vying for the $500,000 grand prize.
Junior expressed eagerness to perform and move closer to his objective of winning another championship by the end of the year. He finds the PFL`s regular fight schedule advantageous for him personally, as he doesn`t struggle with significant weight cuts, unlike some of the division`s heavier competitors who face this challenge every couple of months. Despite being one of the smaller light heavyweights, he sees this aspect as making the process slightly easier for him.
Murray Blackwood