A decorated submission artist in Carlos Jr. against a dominant collegiate wrestler in Cauley. With a world title on the line over five rounds, this was a matchup fight fans were looking forward to.

In the first round, Cauley pressed forward looking to land a big right hand but ran into a punch from Carlos Jr. that floored him. Trying to regain composure Cauley got his feet back under him, retreating to the fence. Carlos Jr. came forward now looking to land a knee up the middle, as Cauley tried to recover. A winging overhand from Cauley missed as Antonio looked sharp with his jab and combos early. A good low leg kick landed by Carlos Jr. and he ate a right hand for it immediately. Cauley knocked Carlos Jr. down but the former champion returned fire from his back landing an upkick that put Cauley on all fours.

Both fighters scrambled to their feet in a highly entertaining opening round. A big head kick from Carlos Jr. connected with over a minute left in the round, as Cauley started to bleed. Both fighters stood in the center of the cage with thirty seconds remaining slinging punches back and forth. Cauley forced the fight to the fence near the end of the round but after one it was Carlos Jr. jumping out to an early lead.

Chants of “Lets go Sully” rang through the Hard Rock Casino as round two started. Cauley came forward looking to land big hooks on the inside, narrowly missing with a left against the cage. Carlos Jr. complained about an eye poke but was slow to call time out. Carlos Jr. ate multiple shots before the fight was momentarily halted due to an eye poke. As the fight continued Carlos Jr. landed a massive kick that sent Cauley backwards.

Antonio initiated the clinch and was able to take the fight down with over two minutes remaining. In back control, Carlos Jr. was looking for a rear naked choke submission as Cauley laid bloody on the canvas. Expertly snatching the neck of Cauley, Carlos Jr. was able to lock in the choke earning his second tournament final win! A massive victory in the career of “Shoeface” who turned back the hungry American prospect.

In his post fight interview, Carlos Jr. stated that it was an incredible feeling after overcoming injuries and personal problems to get back to championship gold. He paid respect to his opponent for an incredible fight showcased a side of his striking that we previously hadn’t seen. Congratulations to Antonio Carlos Jr. for winning the 2025 Light Heavyweight World Tournament.

Official Result: Antonio Carlos Jr. def. Sullivan Cauley by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:44

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What a difference a year can make.

Speaking with Cageside Press and other media outlets this week, the PFL Hollywood star noted that in 2024, “there was the acquisition of Bellator and at the same time, I injured myself. I actually had an ACL reconstruction. So those things kind of compounded and made for a long absence from the sport.”

“That was really tough, but by the time I recovered from that ACL, I was ready to go. I wanted to be busy this year, I wanted to fight as much as possible.” When his manager reached out to tell Cauley that he was in the PFL World Tournament, it was music to his ears. “That’s exactly the opportunity we were looking for. This is the plan. We thought I was going to win this tournament at the beginning, we knew it would be tough though. And it’s gone according to plan. We’ve been working hard, winning fights, and this has been the most fun in this sport I can remember.”

Should he win the PFL World Tournament at 205lbs, it’s safe to say Sullivan Cauley has options.

“I think a fight against Corey Anderson would be incredible. In the back of my mind, we’ve always wanted to step into boxing a little bit too. So maybe something there,” he suggested. “I think I’m one of the few guys in the sport of MMA that could box at the professional level really.”

Of course, there’s Antonio Carlos Junior to deal with first. “First thing’s first. We’ve got to beat ‘Shoeface,’ which is no easy task,” said Cauley.

Breaking down his opponent, Cauley, who trains alongside former Bellator double-champ Ryan Bader, said that ACJ “brings experience, toughness, world class jiu-jitsu. He brings a lot. He’s got more experience, than me, but I proved in my last fight I can beat guys with a lot of experience.”

“I think he’s a tough guy, I think he can grind out wins in close fights, he’s proven that. I don’t think he can strike like I can, I don’t think he can wrestle like I can, I don’t think he has the conditioning I have. I think I can get it done,” he finished.

Watch the full PFL Hollywood media day appearance by Sullivan Cauley above.

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In a battle of former Bellator stars, Fabian Edwards and Dalton Rosta headlined the card, with Edwards looking to work his way back to a title shot. He’d come up short against Johnny Eblen for the Bellator title (now the PFL Champions Series belt) late last year; since then, Costello Van Steenis had dethroned Elblen.

Rosta, meanwhile, had avenged the only loss of his pro career earlier in the tournament.

At heavyweight, Alexander Romanov had landed in the World Tournament final after being unable to continue due to a low blow in his semifinal bout. An odd quirk of the rules saw the judges make the call regardless; he was set to take on Oleg Popov.

Where to Watch the PFL World Tournament

PFL Hollywood takes place on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Hollywood, FL. The card airs live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S., and DAZN elsewhere. Full results can be found below. The action kicks off at 6PM ET, 3PM PT, with the main card starting at 9PM ET/6PM PT.

PFL Hollywood: Edwards vs. Rosta Results

Main card

Middleweight: Fabian Edwards def. Dalton Rosta by KO (head kick), Round 3, 1:28 – World Tournament Final
Heavyweight: Oleg Popov def. Alexander Romanov by split decision (47–48, 49–46, 48–47) – World Tournament Final
Light Heavyweight: Antônio Carlos Júnior def. Sullivan Cauley by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:44 – World Tournament Final

Preliminary card

Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Ethan Goss by submission (brabo choke), Round 1, 3:52
Bantamweight: Lazaro Dayron def. Bryce Meredith by TKO (punches), Round 3, 4:06
Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay def. Andrew Sanchez by TKO, Round 3, 4:31
Light Heavyweight: Rasul Magomedov def. Guilherme Viana by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Sergey Bilostenniy def. Karl Williams by TKO, Round 2, 4:11
Middleweight: Josh Silveira def. Murad Ramazanov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Catchweight (175lb): J.P. Saint Louis def. Tyler Ray via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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⚖️ PFL World Tournament Final: Hollywood Weigh Ins

Middleweight Tournament Title Bout:
Fabian Edwards: 185 lbs
Dalton Rosta: 185 lbs

[ #PFLWorldTournament | Thursday, August 21st | Early Card 6pm | Main Card 9pm | ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/k8t6yrfjcW

— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 20, 2025

The final event of the PFL World Tournament is set for Thursday August 21, 2025 and it will feature three title fights on the main card.  The bad blood between Fabian Edwards and Dalton Rosta leads the event after the two middleweights have gone back-and-forth in the media leading up to the fight.

In other action, Oleg Popov is in his second straight tournament final and will look to complete his run this time around as he takes on UFC veteran Alexandr Romanov in a heavyweight title fight.  Finally, former champion Antonio Carlos Jr aka “Shoeface” will look to win his second tournament as he faces Bellator veteran Sullivan Cauley who missed all of 2024 due to injury.

The event will air be simulcast live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States starting at 6pm ET/3pm PT.

PFL Hollywood Weigh In Results:

Main Card:

Middleweight Final: Fabian Edwards (185) vs Dalton Rosta (185)

Heavyweight Final: Alexandr Romanov (263.2) vs Oleg Popov (249.6)

Light-Heavyweight Final: Sullivan Cauley (204.8) vs Antonio Carlos Jr (204.6)

Preliminary Card:

Featherweight: Alexei Pergande (145.6) vs Ethan Goss (145.6)

Bantamweight: Bryce Meredith (135) vs Lazaro Dayron (136)

Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay (185) vs Andrew Sanchez (185.2)

Light-Heavyweight: Raul Magomedov (205.8) vs Guilherme Viana (205.6)

Heavyweight: Sergey Bilostenniy (253.6) vs Karl Williams (253.4)

Middleweight: Josh Silveira (184.4) vs Murad Ramazanov (184.8)

Catchweight: Jean-Pierre St. Louis (176) vs Tyler Ray (175.4)

The post PFL Hollywood Weigh In Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

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.

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The bout came on a night with some questionable scorecards (Dalton Rosta vs. Aaron Jeffery, Sergio Pettis vs. Raufeon Stots) and with one outright bizarre ending, as a No Contest in Alexandr Romanov vs. Valentin Moldavsky saw an injured Romanov, carried out on a stretcher due to a nasty low blow, advance to the PFL heavyweight World Tournament final.

Davis, a former Bellator champ and UFC contender, proved elusive early, as Cauley had to endure an extended feeling out process. Even when the action did pick up, with Cauley attempting to target the body, Davis was just plain hard to hit. And in the back half of the round, it was Davis closing the distance, clinching up, and looking to land a takedown. Which he did, care of a bodylock and a trip. While Cauley was immediately back to his feet, Davis never let go of the hold, and slammed him back down again.

Once again, Cauley popped up, and even dove in on a double-leg attempt of his own, before fanning on a high kick. After five minutes, the lessons learned were clear: Davis had the edge in wrestling, Cauley on the feet.

Cauley, as he had in the opening frame, began to rely on his right hand in round two; that appeared to be his most effective weapon. Davis fired a kick, while Cauley doubled up on that right. Davis ripped another kick to the body of Sullivan, Cauley jabbed the body. “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis then fell back on this wrestling, using a bodylock to his advantage again. And when Cauley returned to his feet, Davis landed a nasty knee to the face, opening up an equally nasty cut.

Despite a faceful of blood, Sullivan Cauley would clip Davis with a headkick towards the final minute, then land a knockdown! Davis shot in out of desperation, and suddenly the round had a different feel- though Davis did complete the takedown, and even went after a half-hearted face crank briefly.

Phil Davis opened round three with a kick to the body, but whether he was fully recovered remained a question. His first takedown attempt was sloppy, with Cauley easily pulling free. Cauley targeted the body with a jab, and worked to pin Davis down on the outside. He’d then catch a Davis kick, trying but failing to dump the former Bellator champ. Another level change from Davis saw Cauley pull free, but this time, Davis went right in on a second attempt, and briefly took Cauley down. To his credit, Cauley was again back up, with just under half a round remaining. He’d try to put the pressure on, only for Davis to tie things up in the final minute.

They’d go to the scorecards, on a night where the judges had been iffy at best. All three judges awarded the fight to Cauley, with two giving him all three rounds against the much more experienced Davis. He’s headed to the light heavyweight World Tournament final, opposite Antonio Carlos Jr.

Official Result: Sullivan Cauley def. Phil Davis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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“You are what to you tell yourself. If he’s in his prime…he’s framing it as a younger person,” Davis told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“Experience’s not everything. It’s something though. He speaks like a guy that hasn’t gone into the second round.”

Davis (25-7) isn’t wrong. In 8 professional bouts, 7 victories with 1 loss, Cauley has not seen the second round. The younger fighter earlier in the day said that his cardio was one of the best in the game compared to anyone.

Davis scoffed.

“Can we compare him to anyone? How can we compare him if he hasn’t been to the third round?,” he asked.

At 40-years-old and 17 years into his professional MMA career Davis is still hungry for belts and checks. A win over Cauley on Friday will get him a ticket to the finals and the winner of Antonio Carlos Jr and Simeon Powell.

“I’m just enjoying the ride. I’m having fun. Each day I continue to have fun in my training. A lot of people get to a place, maybe it’s 20s maybe it’s 30s, and they say I’ve done what I need to do. I’m ready to move on,” he said.

“For the people that continue to keep going on and doing it at a high level they’re probably doing a lot of things right. I just enjoy what I do. I love going to work every day.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Phil Davis above. He takes on Sullivan Cauley in the semifinals of the PFL World Tournament on Friday night.

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Davis, another former Bellator champ, has history with Bader, making him all the more important of a teammate for Cauley this time out. “None of this is rocket science. He [Davis] fights the way he fights, he’s really good, he’s got a good style that suits him well,” stated Cauley, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s PFL Chicago media day. “But yeah, Ryan’s definitely been helpful for him.”

Later, Cauley (7-1) would pay his respects to “Mr. Wonderful,” while also noting the different points they’re at in their respective careers. Cauley is 29, Davis more than a decade older than him at 40.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Phil, because he’s been around forever. That is a double-edged sword because he’s getting a little older, he’s out of his prime and I’m kind of just entering mine,” said Cauley. “Going into this tournament we were hoping we’d get Phil in the second round. It would be such a big win, because his resume is so extensive.”

On the opposite side of the bracket, former PFL Global champ Antonio Carlos Jr. faces Simeon Powell, in a similar veteran vs. up-and-comer match-up. Asked about his preference on who he might face in the PFL World Tournament final at 205lbs, Sullivan Cauley sided with the younger man.

“I think it would be cool to fight Simeon Powell just because we’re a couple of young bucks. I think that would be kind of a neat storyline,” he suggested. “But both those guys are good, I’d be happy to beat either of them.”

Watch the full PFL Chicago media day appearance by Sullivan Cauley above.

The post PFL Chicago’s Sullivan Cauley Was Hoping for Davis Match-Up in Second Round of World Tournament appeared first on Cageside Press.

And Sully did just that.

After a few exchanges on the feet, Sully managed to mix in his wrestling, bringing the fight to the ground before locking in a vicious arm triangle choke that left his opponent Hamza Salim unconscious. Cauley asserted his dominance throughout the fight, rebounding from his prior defeat in emphatic fashion.

“It was all mental. Last fight I let it all get to me…this time I was able to have a more normal, relaxed frame of mind,” Cauley said during the post-fight press conference. “I was able to let the skills show and have good timing and be fast.”

Cauley, 27, improves to (6-1) with six first-round finishes under the Bellator banner, and looks to have a very bright future in this sport. It’ll be interesting to see who the former NCAA wrestling standout gets matched up with next, as hopes to fight alongside Bellator heavyweight champion and teammate Ryan Bader this October.

“Get me on there. Get me on there,” Cauley said regarding Bellator 300.

Watch the full Bellator 298 post-fight press conference with Sullivan Cauley above.

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In a press release on Tuesday, promotion officials announced that eight fights had been announced for the Bellator 298 card in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 11, 2023. Among them were a previously reported match-up between Jaylon Bates and Enrique Barzola, and the addition of James Gonzalez stepping in against James Gallagher — but regardless, the extra six bookings beings the card to 19 announced fights in total.

Among the names newly added to Bellator 298, Sullivan Cauley (5-1) is set for a light heavyweight showdown against Cedric Savage (3-2), with Cauley bringing at 100% finish rate to the fight. Hawaiian Kai Kamaka (11-5-1), a UFC veteran, had been paired up with Russia’s Akhmed Magomedov (10-1).

Middleweights Khalid Murtazaliev (17-3) and Mike Shipman (15-4) also collide.

Rounding out the most recent additions, Bryce Meredith (4-0) faces Alberto Rodriguez (4-3) at bantamweight, Russian middleweight Imamshafi Aliev (9-0) goes up against Elevation Fight Team’s Anthony Adams (9-4), and Alfie Davis (15-4-1) faces UFC alum Aalon Cruz.

Bellator 298 takes place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 11, 2023 with welterweights Logan Storley and Brennan Ward headlining. Fans might want to show up early to catch all the action in this one.

The Bellator 298 card currently features the following announced match-ups:

• Logan Storley vs. Brennan Ward
• Valentin Moldavsky vs. Steve Mowry
• Dalton Rosta vs. Aaron Jeffery
• Sidney Outlaw vs. Islam Mamedo
• Lucas Brennan vs. Weber Almeida
• Enrique Barzola vs. Jaylon Bates
• Kai Kamaka vs. Akhmed Magomedov
• Diana Avsaragova vs. Justine Kish
• James Gallagher vs. James Gonzalez
• Imamshafi Aliev vs. Anthony Adams
• Max Rohskopf vs. Jario Pacheco
• Dayana Silva vs. Katerina Shakalova
• Sullivan Cauley vs. Cedric Savage
• Bryce Meredith vs. Alberto Rodriguez
• Alfie Davis vs. Aalon Cruz
• Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov
• Khalid Murtazaliev vs. Mike Shipman
• Marcirley Alves da Silva vs. Jerrell Hodge
• Michael Blockhus vs. Eli Mefford

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