Preview: PFL 2025 World Tournament 4

Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal

Karl Moore (12-3, 0-0 PFL) vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-6, 6-1 PFL)

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Thursday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Moore was on the best stretch of his career before dropping a decision to Corey Anderson in March 2024. It has been over a year since he has been in the cage, but the Belfast battler could still be a formidable threat to the other light heavyweights in the field. Moore boasts wins over Karl Albrektsson and Alex Polizzi and is a well-rounded fighter. He’s not dominant in any one area, but the SBG Ireland product comes to fight and will throw his hardest shot from bell to bell. Carlos Jr. won the PFL light heavyweight tournament four years ago, but his career has been slowed by inactivity. After sitting out all of 2023, Carlos Jr. returned to action in 2024 and went 1-1 in his two fights. There was plenty of hype surrounding the Brazilian after he easily stopped Simon Biyong in the opening round last season, but Carlos Jr. looked out of sorts in his second-round matchup against Polizzi. Carlos Jr. started the fight strong but was outworked by the Northwestern product down the stretch.

On paper, Carlos Jr. is the more experienced and talented fighter, but he could find himself pushed to the brink against Moore. The Irishman knows he needs to keep the fight on the feet and press Carlos Jr. to the cage, but it could be easier said than done. Carlos Jr. has 12 submissions on his ledger and will likely do whatever he can to take the fight to the mat. It could be a razor-thin fight with the scorecards going every which way, but Moore has the gas tank to squeeze out a decision.

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Davis vs. Wilkinson
Moldavsky vs. Bilostenniy
Moore vs. Carlos Jr.
Albrektsson vs. Powell
The Prelims