If it feels like Raush Manfio came out of nowhere in 2021, it’s because he basically did.
The Brazilian fighter had one of the most remarkable years not only in the PFL, but across any organization, and maybe even in all of sports. Manfio (15-3) entered the 2021 PFL lightweight season as an alternate. It was a Hail Mary in a fighting career that wasn’t panning out the way he hoped.
Manfio was working as a janitor and teaching MMA classes on the side. He hadn’t fought since the summer of 2018 and was coming off a loss to Sidney Outlaw that saw him lose his Titan FC title. In a nearly three-year layoff, Manfio had a tough time getting opponents, and that was made even more difficult when the pandemic hit.
The Brazilian was disappointed in his career, to say the least, and was on the brink of retirement. But his manager,, Brian Butler, talked him off the ledge and told him to give him a chance at getting him into the PFL before making a final decision. The PFL came calling when it needed someone to replace an injured Olivier Aubin-Mercier to fight Joilton Lutterbach on short notice.
In the first event of the season, Manfio got the ball rolling when he edged Lutterbach with a split decision and notched three points to enter among the qualifying top four.
But his work wasn’t done. The lightweights came back on centerstage seven weeks later in June for the final regular season bouts. Manfio was set to fight friend and two-time PFL champion Natan Schulte. But Anthony Pettis, who was headlining the event, was forced to withdraw from the card. Schulte then was matched up with Pettis’ opponent, Alexander Martinez, and Manfio was removed from the card and scheduled to fight former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Pettis later that month.
In the biggest fight of his career, Manfio pulled off an upset in a tough, gritty battle. He eliminated Pettis from the season, edging him out in a split decision in the co-main event. It was a high-profile victory that punched his ticket to the PFL playoffs and gave him a chance to become a champion and win a $1 million prize.
Although it was a monumental win for Manfio, he still had his work cut out. He was paired against fan-favorite Clay Collard, who was looking good and on a four-fight winning streak. And on the other side of the bracket, 2019 PFL runner-up Loik Radzhabov faced Paraguay’s Martinez.
Manfio’s 2021 PFL lightweight season conquest seemed like it was destined.
Once again, the Brazilian defied the odds. In a competitive and close bout, Manfio knocked off Collard in the semifinals to put himself one win away from the title. Radzhabov beat Martinez on the other side of the bracket, setting up Manfio for a tough finale.
In one of the best PFL fights of the year, Manfio and Radzhabov went toe-to-toe for 25 minutes. Both fighters had their moments and there were dramatic shifts of momentum in the fight. But Manfio finished strong and imposed himself on a fading Radzhabov. He won the championship fight by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 48-46 and 48-46.
At the start of the 2021 PFL season, Manfio largely was an unknown figure in MMA. He hadn’t fought since 2018 and had yet to test himself in a major promotion. In just one year, “Cavalo de Guerra” notched four consecutive wins, upsetting Collard and Pettis in the process to win the 2021 PFL lightweight title and a $1 million prize.
Manfio defied the odds. Hs he was a +1000 underdog to win the 2021 PFL season. He also let his presence be known to the entire MMA world and is MMA Junkie’s 2021 Newcomer of the Year.
