Antônio Carlos Júnior

Antônio Carlos Coelho de Figueiredo Barbosa Júnior (born 16 March 1990), also known as Antônio Carlos Jr. and professionally by his ring name Cara de Sapato (as well as its English translation Shoeface), is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division and is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he became champion in 2021. Carlos Júnior is most known for his time spent fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he competed in the Light Heavyweight division in addition to Middleweight. A multiple time champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Carlos Júnior was World Cup Champion in 2006 (at blue junior) and 2x World Champion in 2010 (weight and absolute at brown belt). He is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Heavyweight tournament and the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion. In 2023, he was cast as contestant in the reality show Big Brother Brasil 23.

The Ultimate Fighter
On 26 February, 2014, it was revealed that Carlos Júnior was selected to be a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3. Cara de Sapato defeated Guilherme Viana via TKO (punches) to move into the Ultimate Fighter house, and become an official cast member.

Carlos Júnior was selected as the first pick (second overall) of coach Wanderlei Silva to be a part of Team Wanderlei. In his second Heavyweight fight of the season, Cara de Sapato was selected to fight Edgard Castaldelli Filho and won via knockout (punch) with only twelve seconds of fight in the first round. He was then scheduled to face Marcos Rogério de Lima for a spot in the final against Vitor Miranda He defeated Lima by submission (rear-naked choke).

Ultimate Fighting Championship (2014–2021)
Carlos Júnior made his promotional debut on 31 May, 2014, at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale against Vitor Miranda to determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Heavyweight Tournament. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Carlos Júnior made his light heavyweight debut against Patrick Cummins on 20 December, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway. He lost the one-sided fight by unanimous decision. After the defeat, he decided to move to the middleweight division for his next fight.

Carlos Júnior faced Eddie Gordon in a middleweight bout on 27 June, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 70 He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Carlos Júnior faced Kevin Casey on 10 December, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 80. The bout was deemed a No Contest just 11 seconds into the first round when Carlos Júnior accidentally poked Casey in both eyes and Casey was unable to continue.

Carlos Júnior next faced Dan Kelly on 20 March, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 85. He lost the bout via TKO in the third round.

Carlos Júnior returned to face Leonardo Augusto Guimarães on 17 September, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Carlos Júnior faced Marvin Vettori on 30 December, 2016, at UFC 207. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Carlos Júnior faced Eric Spicely on 3 June, 2017, at UFC 212. He won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Carlos Júnior faced Jack Marshman on 28 October, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 119. Carlos won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in round one.

Carlos Júnior faced Tim Boetsch on 14 April, 2018, at UFC on Fox 29. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round one.

Carlos Júnior was expected to face Derek Brunson on 4 August, 2018, at UFC 227. However, Brunson pulled out of the fight in early July citing an eye injury. In turn, Carlos Júnior was removed from the card entirely and is expected to be rescheduled for a future event. Subsequently, Carlos Júnior was quickly rescheduled was expected to face Elias Theodorou on 22 September, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. However, Júnior pulled out on 28 August due to injury. The pairing was expected to be left intact and was rescheduled for 8 December, 2018, at UFC 231. On 13 September, 2018, it was reported that Carlos Júnior withdrew from his bout with Theodorou yet again, citing a surgery is required on the injury that caused the cancellation of his first scheduled bout with Theodorou.

Carlos Júnior faced Ian Heinisch at UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee on 18 May, 2019. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Carlos Júnior faced Uriah Hall on 14 September, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 16. He lost the fight via split decision.

Carlos Júnior was scheduled to face Brad Tavares on 14 March, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. However, Tavares was forced to pull out of the fight due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and he was replaced by Makhmud Muradov. In turn, Carlos Júnior suffered from an unspecified injury and the bout was cancelled from the event. The bout with Brad Tavares was rescheduled for 24 January, 2021, at UFC 257. Carlos Júnior lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On 4 February, 2021, it was announced that Carlos Júnior was released from his UFC contract.

2021 Season
On 6 March, 2021, it was announced by Carlos Júnior's management that he had signed to the Professional Fighters League and would be competing in the 2021 season. He made his PFL debut against Tom Lawlor on 29 April, 2021, at PFL 2. He won the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.

Carlos Júnior faced Vinny Magalhães at PFL 5 on 17 June, 2021. Halfway through round one, Júnior hit Magalhães with an accidental knee to the groin, rendering him unable to continue. This led to the bout being declared a no contest.

Carlos Júnior faced Emiliano Sordi in the Semifinals off the Light Heavyweight tournament on 27 August, 2021, at PFL 9. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Carlos Júnior faced Marthin Hamlet in the Finals of the Light Heavyweight tournament on 27 October, 2021, at PFL 10. He won the bout via rear-naked choke in the first round, winning the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament and $1 million prize.

2022 Season
Carlos Júnior faced Delan Monte on April 20, 2022, at PFL 1. He won 29 seconds into the bout via brabo choke.

Carlos Júnior faced Bruce Souto on June 17, 2022, at PFL 4. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Carlos Júnior was scheduled to face Omari Akhmedov in the Semifinals off the Light Heavyweight tournament on August 5, 2022, at PFL 7. However, he suffered an ACL injury requiring surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the year.

2024 Season
Carlos Júnior made his return against Simon Biyong on April 12, 2024 at PFL 2. He won the fight by a rear-naked choke submission.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Heavyweight Tournament Winner
 * Tied (Thales Leites, Rousimar Palhares & Demian Maia) for second most submissions in UFC Middleweight division history (5)
 * '''Professional Fighters League
 * 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

 * 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2012)
 * 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2012)
 * 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2012)


 * 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2010 brown belt)
 * 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2011 / 2010 brown belt, 2009 /purple belt, 2008 blue belt)
 * 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2007)
 * 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2008 purple belt, 2007 blue junior)
 * 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship Juvenile (2007)
 * 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Team Nationals (2008 / 2007)

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