Cappelozza’s 2021 PFL Title Win Was Happiest & Saddest Day Of His Life

2021 PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza’s best day of his MMA career was also the worst in his personal life. Cappelozza’s first season in the PFL wrapped up with an exciting win over Ante Delija at the 2021 PFL Championships. After a back-and-forth war, Cappelozza won the fight via unanimous decision to earn the heavyweight…

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2021 PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza’s best day of his MMA career was also the worst in his personal life.

Cappelozza’s first season in the PFL wrapped up with an exciting win over Ante Delija at the 2021 PFL Championships. After a back-and-forth war, Cappelozza won the fight via unanimous decision to earn the heavyweight belt and the $1 million grand prize.

But disaster would strike for Cappelozza and his family amidst the chaos and celebration at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL.

Cappelozza’s father, Joao, passed away before the event started. His family withheld news of his passing from Cappelozza so he could focus on the biggest fight of his MMA career.

During his PFL 2 pre-fight media day, Cappelozza was asked if he has more motivation following the death of his father.

“Absolutely,” Cappelozza said. “My Dad was always my biggest fan, my biggest supporter. So I’m here to keep following my dream, the dream of my family, and his dream as well. I know that wherever he’s at, he’s following me closely and what I’m achieving. My dreams are his dreams as well.”

Cappelozza was just minutes removed from winning the title when he got word that his father had passed away in his native Brazil. He was able to work through the whirlwind of emotions by relying on those closest to him.

“It was the happiest and saddest day of my life,” Cappelozza admitted. “My Dad is everything for me and for my family and we’re still mourning him. But I’m certain of his place in heaven. We all are. I’m just happy to provide for my family and happily represent them.”

Cappelozza will make his 2022 debut against British prospect Stuart Austin at PFL 2 on Thursday night. He’s won four-straight fights after a loss to current UFC light heavyweight contender Ji?í Procházka at RIZIN 11.

Cappelozza will look to become the first back-to-back PFL heavyweight champion in the league’s history and will use the lessons and love his father provided him with to continue on his path to success.

Do you think Bruno Cappelozza will repeat as PFL heavyweight champion in 2022?

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Chris Wade Felt “Tortured” By 2021 PFL Title Loss Ahead Of 2022 Debut

PFL featherweight Chris Wade’s 2021 PFL Championship loss to Movlid Khaybulaev was harder for him to stomach than most realized. Wade will face former PFL champion Lance Palmer at PFL 2 on Thursday night. He’s coming off a memorable 2021 season that featured highlight wins over Bubba Jenkins and Arman Ospanov. Wade, a former UFC…

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PFL featherweight Chris Wade’s 2021 PFL Championship loss to Movlid Khaybulaev was harder for him to stomach than most realized.

Wade will face former PFL champion Lance Palmer at PFL 2 on Thursday night. He’s coming off a memorable 2021 season that featured highlight wins over Bubba Jenkins and Arman Ospanov.

Wade, a former UFC fighter, has found a home in the PFL after an 11-year career in MMA. But the toughest loss of his career came after falling short of the 145-pound title to Khaybulaev last October.

During his PFL 2 pre-fight media day, Wade explained the aftermath of what he has described as the toughest defeat of his MMA career.

“We fell short, it was crushing,” Wade shared. “It was probably the hardest loss in MMA that I’ve ever had to deal with and to move past. There was a solid junk of time there before the holidays when I was pretty depressed. Pretty upset, going through waves of emotion. Just asking myself ‘Why?’…then if you’re a competitor and you’re a winner, and you stop feeling sorry for yourself, you squash those feelings and get back to work.”

While Wade went through some dark times after the loss to Khaybulaev, he was able to eventually put it behind him as he gets ready for 2022.

“I did, but the positives came after the holidays,” Wade admitted when asked if he took anything positive away from the loss. “The first month, month and a half was just really rough on myself. I still had the cut from the knee, and when I would look in the mirror it would be a constant reminder. It was torture kind of…I’m not just a ‘me’ person, I’m big on my family and my daughter. I wanted that title and that money for them, more than I wanted it for myself.”

Wade fell short in the PFL Playoffs twice before, losing to the eventual lightweight champion Natan Schulte in 2018 and runner-up Loik Radzhabov in 2019. After a pair of devastating losses at lightweight, he decided to make the full-time move to 145 pounds.

Wade will be one of the top contenders in the PFL featherweight division in 2022, and he’ll look to put the past behind him with an impressive performance against Palmer.

What is your prediction for Chris Wade’s 2022 PFL season?

Continue Reading Chris Wade Felt “Tortured” By 2021 PFL Title Loss Ahead Of 2022 Debut at MMA News.

Chris Wade Felt “Tortured” By 2021 PFL Title Loss Ahead Of 2022 Debut

PFL featherweight Chris Wade’s 2021 PFL Championship loss to Movlid Khaybulaev was harder for him to stomach than most realized. Wade will face former PFL champion Lance Palmer at PFL 2 on Thursday night. He’s coming off a memorable 2021 season that featured highlight wins over Bubba Jenkins and Arman Ospanov. Wade, a former UFC…

Continue Reading Chris Wade Felt “Tortured” By 2021 PFL Title Loss Ahead Of 2022 Debut at MMA News.

PFL featherweight Chris Wade’s 2021 PFL Championship loss to Movlid Khaybulaev was harder for him to stomach than most realized.

Wade will face former PFL champion Lance Palmer at PFL 2 on Thursday night. He’s coming off a memorable 2021 season that featured highlight wins over Bubba Jenkins and Arman Ospanov.

Wade, a former UFC fighter, has found a home in the PFL after an 11-year career in MMA. But the toughest loss of his career came after falling short of the 145-pound title to Khaybulaev last October.

During his PFL 2 pre-fight media day, Wade explained the aftermath of what he has described as the toughest defeat of his MMA career.

“We fell short, it was crushing,” Wade shared. “It was probably the hardest loss in MMA that I’ve ever had to deal with and to move past. There was a solid junk of time there before the holidays when I was pretty depressed. Pretty upset, going through waves of emotion. Just asking myself ‘Why?’…then if you’re a competitor and you’re a winner, and you stop feeling sorry for yourself, you squash those feelings and get back to work.”

While Wade went through some dark times after the loss to Khaybulaev, he was able to eventually put it behind him as he gets ready for 2022.

“I did, but the positives came after the holidays,” Wade admitted when asked if he took anything positive away from the loss. “The first month, month and a half was just really rough on myself. I still had the cut from the knee, and when I would look in the mirror it would be a constant reminder. It was torture kind of…I’m not just a ‘me’ person, I’m big on my family and my daughter. I wanted that title and that money for them, more than I wanted it for myself.”

Wade fell short in the PFL Playoffs twice before, losing to the eventual lightweight champion Natan Schulte in 2018 and runner-up Loik Radzhabov in 2019. After a pair of devastating losses at lightweight, he decided to make the full-time move to 145 pounds.

Wade will be one of the top contenders in the PFL featherweight division in 2022, and he’ll look to put the past behind him with an impressive performance against Palmer.

What is your prediction for Chris Wade’s 2022 PFL season?

Continue Reading Chris Wade Felt “Tortured” By 2021 PFL Title Loss Ahead Of 2022 Debut at MMA News.