Antonio Carlos Jr.-Karl Albrektsson Canceled; Carlos Jr. Remains Alternate in PFL Playoffs

Antonio Carlos Jr. won’t be fighting on Friday night as originally expected, but the Brazilian will remain an alternate for the Professional Fighters League light heavyweight playoffs.

Carlos Jr. was slated to face Karl Albrektsson at PFL 8 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, but the promotion recently announced that the 205-pound clash has been removed from the card. However, “Cara de Sapato” will be available to fill in should anything go awry for the four light heavyweight semfinalists.

PFL 8 features semifinal bouts at both light heavyweight and lightweight. The card is headlined by a rematch of a 2023 final, as Impa Kasanganay squares off against Joshua Silveira at 205 pounds. The main draw airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, while prelims stream via ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Carlos Jr. returned from a hiatus that lasted nearly two years for the 2024 PFL season. After submitting Simon Biyong at PFL 2, the 34-year-old American Top Team representative was eliminated from the postseason with a unanimous decision loss to Alex Polizzi at PFL 5. “Cara de Sapato” captured the PFL light heavyweight crown in 2021.