Chicago — Light heavyweight Sullivan Cauley landed himself in the PFL World Tournament final at PFL Chicago, care of a decision win over Phil Davis.
Without question, the win is the biggest of his career, in a fight with an opponent he’d respected and even saw featured in the UFC video game growing up. Even better, noted Cauley following the fight, he got to show more of himself to fight fans.
“I really had to dig deep there in rounds two and three. I think Phil and I were both tired coming out of that first round, and yeah I just had to dig deep and fight hard,” Cauley (8-1) told media outlets including Cageside Press at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. “My face was busted up, I was breathing hard, I couldn’t feel my arms, and just kept fighting. That’s the kind of guy that I am, that my coaches know that I am. When you’re knocking people out in the first round people don’t get to see that, and I felt today I got to show everybody what I’m really made of.”
The win was also a huge confidence boost. “I couldn’t be more confident. I knew I was good enough to beat Phil, but believing it and doing it are two different things. So this is just an affirmation for me of my skill set and all the work I’ve put into this sport.”
“Beating a guy like Phil Davis like that, I’m one of the best 205lb’ers in the world, for sure.”
Just as the confidence boost was huge, so was the cage time. Cauley had never before gone to a decision in any of his professional fights. “This is hugely valuable. This is really where you get better,” he noted. “People talk about getting better in practice all the time, and that’s true to an extent, but there’s really a limit to how much you can grow in the practice room. Competition is really where you get better.”
Now, it’s off to the PFL World Tournament final against Antonio Carlos Jr., who Sullivan Cauley called “another veteran, another really tough guy.” In this case, one who possesses “world-class jiu-jitsu.”
That, he added, “presents a unique set of challenges,” though challenges he feels he can overcome. “I don’t think he can strike with me, I don’t think he’s going to be able to find me. I’m going to be in and out, and side to side, and I’m going to knock him out.”
Watch the full PFL Chicago post-fight press conference with Sullivan Cauley above.
