Matheus Scheffel wasn’t planning on moving up to heavyweight yet, but some miscommunication led to “Buffa” being among the heaviest fighters for PFL’s fourth season, which continues on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.
Scheffel, who faces Season 3 tourney finalist Ante Delija, had fought at Dana White‘s Contender Series at 205 pounds in August 2021, losing to Azamat Murzakanov in Las Vegas. He was signed up by his management team to the next season of PFL negotiations. He was a heavyweight competitor throughout his career.
“My manager’s idea was to put me in the 205-pound division, but there was some confusion in the conversation with them, and the heavyweight spot was offered to us,” Scheffel said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I took it without thinking twice.”
Scheffel was asked to get a win first before signing with PFL, and he walked through Jose Rodrigo Guelke in under three minutes to improve to 15-7 in the sport ahead of his first PFL appearance.
“I felt so fast [at heavyweight],” Scheffel said. Scheffel said, “I believe that this is my advantage at heavyweight. I’m feeling way better now than I was for the Contender fight because we’re already in. The million-dollar [grand prix], is the biggest GP in the world. Everything’s brand new, and we are now in the million-dollar [grand prix]. I’m extremely happy.”
Still working part-time as a personal trainer and martial arts teacher in Brazil, Scheffel will finally be able to live as a full-time MMA fighter if he wins the tournament and pockets the $1 million prize. Until then, he remains focused “on the fight and the belt, not the money.”
His first opponent inside the PFL cage is 2021 heavyweight runner-up Delija, a former RIZIN and KSW fighter who has only lost to two men in his past 13 bouts: Marcin Tybura and 2021 PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza (twice).
” I wasn’t in negotiations with PFL when Bruno was fighting, but Scheffel stated that he saw the fight and immediately thought of myself as fighting him. “When I signed with PFL, I knew he would be my debut opponent. He’s tough, but it’s a good match-up for me. He’ll be defeated, and I will show him what I am here to do. I believe I’m the underdog because I’m moving up a division, but I like to fight against the odds.”
“I think I’ll knock this guy out, man,” he continued. “He stands and trades but doesn’t have good timing on the feet. If he does that against me and my hands lands, he’s going down. He’s very tough and has a big heart, but he gets hit a lot.”
