2021 PFL Champion Antonio Carlos Jr. has gone through a lot in his career, both mentally and physically.
At age 33, Brazilian champion Carlos Jr. competed in the entire Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament—finishing it with a record of over . 500—and earned a million-dollar check into the PFL ranks. It wasn’t always the land of milk and honey for the man known as “Cara de Sapato” or “Shoeface”, who recently revealed that he had suffered greatly throughout his life from multiple mental and physical disorders.
In the final taping of the 23rd season of “Big Brother Brasil”, Carlos Jr. worked as a stuntman. as a team member. The show didn’t end positively for “Cara de Sabato,” who was fired from the season along with Guilherme Dantas — aka MC Guime — over allegations of sexual harassment towards guest member Dana Mendes. During the program’s broadcast, Carlos Jr. shared that he had been dealing with Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes motor or vocal tics, since childhood.
The fighter, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of seven, said he also suffers from an anxiety disorder, a condition often associated with Tourette’s. Carlos Jr. has learned to master and overcome his difficulties through exercise, physical exercises and meditation. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt explained that as a child, he suffered a lot thanks to his school friends who would tease him for the tics caused by this syndrome. As he got older, Carlos Jr. learned to deal with his condition and regained control of his motor functions.
Now an adult and well-known figure in sports and Brazil due in part to the reality show, the fighter sets an example for overcoming the disorder, and wishes to help others who suffer from the same syndrome. One such example is 12-year-old Felipe Baca, who is a fan of Carlos Jr. “Cara de Sabato” recorded a video to share with young fans, offering support and praising Baca for his bravery.
Currently living in Florida, Carlos Jr. is in the middle of a transitional period in his life. He’s focused on his recovery, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury that knocked him out of the 2022 AFL play-off game. The IBJJF World Champion and CBJJ Champion cannot participate in the 2023 PFL season, and the timetable for his return to action is currently unclear.