Antonio Carlos Junior

Cara de Sapato

Brazil

To meet Ian Heinisch in Rochester
MiddleweightOther
April 30, 2019
Carlos Junior will take on Ian Heinisch in a middleweight matchup at UFC Rochester on May 18, Fernanda Prates and Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie.com report.
ANALYSIS
Carlos Junior has been fighting in the UFC since 2014, but a recent string of bad luck related to injuries has prevented him from taking the cage for over a year, including multiple proposed matchups against Elias Theodorou that fell through. Now healthy and ready to fight again, UFC brass will give "Shoeface" a step back by pinning him against American Ian Heinisch, who has just one UFC fight under his belt. Carlos Junior is the younger fighter with better wrestling numbers, though that's admittedly a bit tough to judge with just a one-fight sample size for Heinisch. Nonetheless, look for "Shoeface" to enter as the betting favorite.
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Cancels for second time
MiddleweightOther
September 14, 2018
Carlos Junior's undisclosed injury requires surgery and he'll no longer be able to fight Elias Theodorou at UFC 231 on Dec. 8, Danny Segura of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
This is the second time this fight has been canceled after it was originally supposed to take place at UFC Sao Paulo on Sept. 22. The same unspecified injury caused both cancellations, although now it seems that Carlos Junior will need considerable time to recover before jumping back into the octagon. A replacement fighter for Theodorou has not been announced.
Bout with Elias Theodorou moved to UFC 231
MiddleweightOther
August 29, 2018
Carlos Junior's (undisclosed) fight against Elias Theodorou has been moved to UFC 231 on Dec. 8 in Toronto, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The match was originally scheduled for Sept. 22 during UFC Sao Paulo, but Carlos Junior withdrew from the card due to an undisclosed injury. He's been on a roll, winning his past five fights, including his most recent victory -- a first-round submission -- against Tim Boetsch. Carlos Junior's opponent, Theodorou, is on a two-fight winning streak.
Pulled from UFC Sao Paulo
MiddleweightOther
August 28, 2018
Carlos Junior will no longer face Elias Theodorou at UFC Sao Paulo on Sept. 22, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Carlos Junior had been looking to build on a five-fight winning streak, and would have been the betting favorite in this one, but that opportunity will be put on hold for the time being. Meanwhile, the UFC will seek a replacement middleweight opponent for Theodorou.
To welcome Elias Theodorou to Brazil
MiddleweightOther
August 2, 2018
Carlos Junior will take on Elias Theodorou in a middleweight matchup at UFC Sao Paulo on Sept. 22.
ANALYSIS
Carlos Junior is one of the hottest fighters in the middleweight division, as he's currently riding a five-fight winning streak that was capped off with a dominant victory over Tim Boetsch in April via first-round submission. He'll now get to welcome Theodorou to his native Brazil, and although "The Spartan" is ranked No. 14 in the top-heavy middleweight division, it's a fight Carlos Junior is expected to win. To do so, he would be wise to lean on his wrestling, just as he has in each of his UFC fights. Theodorou defends only 58 percent of his takedowns, though it is worth noting that he's never been submitted in his professional career. Carlos Junior will likely look to put an end to that streak, and if he can get "The Spartan" to tap, it would be his fifth submission victory in his last six bouts.
Easily rolls over overmatched Tim Boetsch Saturday
MiddleweightOther
April 14, 2018
Carlos Junior defeated Tim Boetsch via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:28 of Round 1 at UFC on FOX 29 on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.
ANALYSIS
It's official: Carlos Junior is a legitimate threat in the UFC's middleweight division. No 185-pounder on the roster can match Carlos Junior's combination of size, striking, and grappling. A win over Boetsch means little in early 2018, but the way Carlos Junior clamped on the RNC to finish the fight was truly impressive. He is now riding a five-fight winning streak and four of those victories have come via rear-naked choke. The 28-year-old Brazilian needs a significant step up in competition his next time out.