After securing a decision win against Karl Moore in May to reach the PFL light heavyweight semifinals, Antonio Carlos Junior expressed concern about one judge`s score favoring his opponent. This particular scoring decision surprised him.
Judge Marcel Varela scored rounds two and three 10-9 for Moore, leading to a 29-28 scorecard for Moore, while the other two judges, Jason Grenier and Troy Wincapaw, did not agree with Varela`s second-round score. While happy to move forward, “Shoeface” believes improvements are needed in judging to prevent similar questionable outcomes.
Junior stated, “I was a bit frightened by one judge`s score. When they announced a split decision, I actually laughed, thinking, `No way. What fight was that judge watching?` I was truly anxious about it.”
Junior felt he largely controlled the bout but admitted to slowing down in the third round, which he believed made a 29-28 score in his favor a reasonable outcome. Despite seeing the win as a positive return after nearly a year off, he called for North American commissions to improve judge training.
According to MMA Decisions, a record-keeping website, Varela has judged only two fights that went the distance in 2025 and just four in the last 18 months, although he was more active between 2021 and 2023, scoring 58 decisions.
“Ideally, you want to finish fights, especially in a tournament format with quick turnarounds,” Junior stated. “But this is high-level MMA with very experienced, technically and tactically skilled fighters. Finishes aren`t always possible; sometimes fights are very close. That`s why having competent, dedicated judges, perhaps even former fighters, is crucial. It sometimes seems like some judges lack understanding of what`s happening. Frankly, I was worried.”
The 2021 PFL light heavyweight tournament winner, Junior, is set to fight Simeon Powell this Friday at PFL 7 in Chicago. The American Top Team fighter is prepared for a full 15 minutes but expects to secure a finish.
Describing Powell, Junior said, “He`s primarily a striker with excellent technique, long reach, and good movement. He`s dangerous because of this. My plan is to pressure him and make him move backward. He seems to prefer boxing and attacking when advancing, so I`ll limit his space and opportunity to settle in. He`s less experienced but has a good record, so we must be smart. I`m confident I can get a submission.”
A win on Friday would send “Shoeface” to the $500,000 final to face the winner of the PFL 7 co-main event between Phil Davis and Sullivan Cauley.
Regarding Davis, Junior acknowledged, “He`s undeniably the favorite. He`s a former Bellator champion who also competed in the UFC. At 40, he`s older but still in excellent condition. He`s beaten top opponents and looked superior, even getting a knockout in his last fight against Rob Wilkinson. Logically, you`d expect Phil Davis to win, but this is MMA – anything can happen. Still, I anticipate facing Phil Davis from the other half of the bracket.”
Percy Harlow