The PFL’s light heavyweight world championship finale featured two fighters from opposite ends of the globe.
Antonio Carlos Junior hailed from Brazil, a hotspot for the sport of MMA. Marthin Hamlet arrived in Florida all the way from Norway, where MMA has yet to be legalized.
Both men wanted to claim gold, and the million dollars in prize money. For Hamlet, however, a win could mean that much more — potentially spurring his home country to finally lift the ban on mixed martial arts.
“Shoeface,” who won The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 tournament and went on to a lengthy UFC career, was no easy out however.
Wednesday’s title fight in Hollywood, Florida started out at a measured pace. Both men landed single strikes, but it was Hamlet scoring first with a big left hand that sent Carlos Junior flailing to the canvas. He recovered, seemingly no worse for the wear. The Brazilian would duck down and land a takedown with about ninety seconds left in the frame, and quickly took Hamlet’s back.
The Norwegian fought the wrists, but Carlos Junior soon had a rear-naked choke in place. Hamlet soon toppled back to the canvas, and Antonio Carlos Junior never let up. The tap came soon after!
#ANDNOW PFL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!!! SHOEFACE GETS IT DONE IN THE 1ST ROUND!#PFLChampionship LIVE NOW
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🌍 https://t.co/WfOt9XBfzk pic.twitter.com/jsLyYhbAw2— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 27, 2021
From TUF, to UFC also-ran, to a millionaire — it’s been an incredible journey for Antonio Carlos Junior, who just two years ago was mired in a slump and pondering retirement.
Official Result: Antonio Carlos Junior def. Marthin Hamlet by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:49
