MIAMI – Emiliano Sordi is aware his entry into the 2022 PFL playoffs is at risk.
The 2019 PFL champion returns at 2022 PFL 4 on June 17 for his second regular season bout in the light heavyweight season. And having lost his first bout last month by unanimous decision, Sordi (23-10-1) has no choice but to put away Delan Monte early to make up points and punch his ticket into the playoffs.
After a stellar 2019 in which he went 5-0 to become champion and win the $1 million prize, Sordi’s 2022 run has come under less-than-ideal circumstances.
“I tore my (knee) ligaments like four weeks before the fight,” Sordi told MMA Junkie in Spanish regarding his start to 2022. “I didn’t have time to recover, much less get a surgery, so I accepted the fight, and I went out to fight like that.
“Now I’ve gotten a lot more time to recover the knee, and I feel it much more stable, and I’m going to continue to move forward. I’m going to go and win this fight on June 17. I have to win in the first round, maximum second round, so I can get in the playoffs. So I’m going out there, and it’s all or nothing.”
Sordi currently has zero points in the light heavyweight standings. Unfortunately for him, several of the other fighters in the season notched first round or second-round finishes in the opening bout.
The Argentine fighter needs a first round finish at 2022 PFL 4 and depends on other results in the division. Only the top four fighters of the 10 in each weight class make it to the playoffs.
To many, this kind of requirement to advance could add pressure going into the fight. However, Sordi believes his style is prime for the kind of result he needs.
“My style is always to go out there and look for the finish as soon as the bell rings,” Sordi explained. “I’m not the type of fighter who looks to play by points to win a decision on the judges’ scorecards. I hate fighting more than two rounds. One round is OK with me. So my style of fighting is always to go and finish the fight. The training is not going to change a lot. I train for that. I already have more than 30 fights, and that’s in my style, so that’s not going to change, and I’m going to go out there and finish the fight.”
Behind on points, ex-champ Emiliano Sordi knows ‘it’s all or nothing’ at PFL 4