Preview: PFL 5 2024

Light Heavyweights

Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-5, 6-0 PFL) vs. Alex Polizzi (10-4, 0-1 PFL)

Carlos Jr. has never lost a PFL fight, and the American Top Team product plans to keep it that way. The former light heavyweight tournament winner returned from a 21-month layoff and looked fantastic in his first-round submission over Simon Biyong. Carlos Jr. has a nasty submission game that has led to 12 career finishes, but his hands lack pop. Carlos Jr. doesn’t have the standup game to dominate a fight for 15 minutes, and he must take control on the ground. In his world, he’s a king, but when it comes to throwing hands, he’s still relying on the basics. Polizzi needs to take advantage of every second Carlos Jr. is standing. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher has struggled throughout the last two years. Since starting his career 10-1, Polizzi has lost three straight to Yoel Romero, Karl Moore and Impa Kasanganay. Polizzi can influence a fight with his Big Ten wrestling pedigree, but his chin is susceptible to big punchers. Luckily for him, Carlos Jr. is not one of those. This fight is a grappler-versus-wrestler affair that could favor the American. If Polizzi mixes it up enough on the feet, he could control Carlos Jr. on the ground long enough to steal rounds. Carlos Jr. will be a handful to roll with, and Polizzi had better make sure his submission defense is on point, but there’s a way to win this fight. It isn’t pretty, but with a frustrating game plan, Polizzi could stifle the former champ and pull off one of the night’s biggest upsets.

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Collard vs. Burnell
Kasanganay vs. Nedoh
Freire vs. Miranda
Wilkinson vs. Silveira
Yagshimuradov vs. Biyong
Carlos Jr. vs. Polizzi
The Prelims