Highlights: Watch Rory MacDonald, Antonio Carlos Junior, Others Win by Submission at PFL #2
On Thursday, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) held the second event of its 2021 season, which featured the debuts of former UFC title challenger and Bellator champion Rory MacDonald, as well as Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist “Shoeface” Antonio Carlos Junior. The card had five finishes by knockout or submission, including those of MacDonald and Carlos Junior, as well as PFL champion Ray Cooper III.
Watch each of the finishes below, courtesy of the PFL.
Rory MacDonald was one of the PFL’s biggest off-season signings. After a six year run in the UFC that saw him fighting for a title, MacDonald joined Bellator MMA in 2017 and captured the welterweight title in 2018. Prior to this win over Curtis Millender, he last competed in October 2019 when he lost his Bellator title to Douglas Lima.
“Shoeface” Antonio Carlos Junior also had a run in the UFC after he won the third season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil in 2014. He lost three straight decisions to close out his UFC career; this win over Tom Lawlor was Carlos Junior’s first since 2018.
Other finishes on the card were champion Ray Cooper III’s arm triangle choke from top half card, Cezar Ferreira’s blistering knockout, and Marthin Hamlet’s arm triangle from inside the guard.