PFL’s heavyweight division will not have a repeat champion this year.
2021 PFL Heavyweight Champion Bruno Cappelozza has reportedly been pulled from the upcoming playoffs, stopping him from becoming a two-time champion in the division.
Cappelozza withdrew from his August 13th semi-final fight against Denis Goltsov due to injury, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN. The fight was scheduled to take place at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.
Cappelozza qualified for the playoffs with a first-round finish win over Stuart Austin in April. His last fight was in June when he lost a unanimous decision to Matheus Scheffel.
Cappelozza earned his first PFL title last year, scoring four wins in 2021 to earn the promotion’s $1 million grand prize.
Now out of the 2022 playoffs, it means that Cappelozza won’t be able to become the promotion’s first-ever two-time heavyweight champion.
Cappelozza will be replaced by Matheus Scheffel, who enters the bracket as an alternate.
The recent change is not the first time a defending champion has pulled out of this season.
2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio Carlos Junior notably departed the promotion’s upcoming August 5th show due to injury as well.
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