Brazilian lightweight Raush Manfio fell on his knee and cried when he picked up the phone and was told by his manager that he would be joining the Professional Fighters League lightweight roster in 2021 after nearly three years away from the sport.
Manfio, who faces Joilton Lutterbach in the prelims of Friday night’s PFL season opener in Atlantic City, N.J., hasn’t entered a cage since he lost the Titan FC lightweight belt to Sidney Outlaw in June 2018. He has tried securing deals with Bellator, Contender Series and even PFL since, but was told “just win one or two first” on several occasions.