Antonio Carlos Junior wants to make it clear that he holds no ill will toward the UFC. But he said leaving the promotion was ultimately the best possible career move.
The former Ultimate Fighter winner exited the promotion after 13 fights and has since gone 4-0 (1 NC) in five PFL fights. He also earned $1 million as the light heavyweight winner for the 2021 PFL season. After his UFC contract (a fight deal), he was awarded this huge financial win.
“Nothing to be done against the UFC,” Carlos Junior stated to MMA Fighting. The UFC was really amazing for me. It was great for a while, but not anymore. Many things have changed since they sold their company. Many things have changed, I believe.
“Moving to PFL, I’m making a lot more money. While I enjoy what I do and it is important, money is equally important. We fight for that, too. I made a lot more money last year than I made in my whole career in the UFC. For sure it’s worthwhile to quit the UFC to go to PFL.
Earning a seven-figure payday not only helped the Brazilian provide better for his family – it also provided financial freedom to the point where money wasn’t as much of a concern before fights.
While many athletes often live paycheck-to-paycheck in MMA, Carlos Junior benefitted greatly from his success, as it allowed him to prepare even better for the 2022 season.
“I don’t have to worry about the money,” Carlos Junior explained. “I’m just fighting because I like it. It makes me feel much more at ease. I feel no pressure. I’m always fighting as I used to do in jiu-jitsu. In jiujitsu I would fight once a month. This is what I do now.
” As I stated, you must keep the spirit and passion for competition alive. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I only fought one time this year and the next year is going to be the same.’ No, I want to constantly fight, and this is happening now.”
Aside from the money, the 32-year-old submission specialist also feels like he’s finally starting to truly understand MMA after he got onto The Ultimate Fighter with very little experience. He was just three fights into his pro career when he scored a slot on the reality show. He has no regrets about choosing that path, but he still learned a lot on the job at the UFC.
“When Carlos Junior told me that he was a The Ultimate Fighter he had never been in combat. I had only one year training. My first fight on The Ultimate Fighter, I was 3-0, and my first fight was just six months before my first fight in The Ultimate Fighter. My experience was minimal.
“I had to learn with the lions, with the biggest names in the division. It was a tough way to learn, but I finally find a way. I feel I’m at my peak. I believe I am at my peak .”
With his next fight scheduled on Friday at PFL 4 in Atlanta, Carlos Junior is ready to go get another win, prepare for the playoffs and hopefully cash another $1 million prize check when the season is over.
” I feel it was the most important thing that happened to me,” Carlos Junior stated about his decision to leave the UFC. All the PFL are very positive. The environment is really great. You don’t feel any pressure. Always fighting. I’m constantly fighting. Every two months I’ve got a fight so it’s pretty good. I keep the rhythm and I keep the competition inside myself, I’m always working.”
