SAO PAULO, Brazil — Antonio Carlos Junior is a multiple-time jiu-jitsu champion who became The Ultimate Fighter winner less than a year after making his MMA debut. With those credentials, the 27-year-old talent believes he has what it takes to become the next big thing in Brazil.
With wins over Eric Spicely, Marvin Vettori and Leonardo Guimaraes in his most recent bouts, “Cara de Sapato” was hoping to get a chance against someone like Derek Brunson next. He was matched up against Jack Marshman at UFC Sao Paulo instead, while Brunson headlines the card opposite Lyoto Machida.