Sullivan Cauley gets interrupted by the referee for a stoppage while fighting for Bellator. Cauley will make his debut in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on May 1 against Marcelo Nunez from Brazil.
There have only been a few changes in Sullivan Cauley’s life since his last professional fight.
When he steps into the octagon on May 1, it’ll have been roughly 21 months since his last professional bout.
The Minden native, who is a Reno High School graduate, has spent a lot of that off time recovering from a torn ACL suffered in training.
Bellator, the promotion he used to work for, was acquired by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which took on some of the fighters from Bellator’s roster such as Cauley, but not everyone.
“The absorption of Bellator by PFL and the uncertainty there,” said Cauley, “It’s been a long time.”
Outside of the sport, Cauley’s now a married man, saying his vows Aug. 11 on the shores of Lake Tahoe. He also started a business.
Since he last fought in August of 2023, there have only been a handful of adjustments.
His love of MMA and being a professional fighting has not changed. Absence has made the heart grow fonder.
FIGHT CAMP
Cauley has entered his fight camp, ramping up training to be in peak condition by May 1.
“It’s going to be tough,” Cauley said through a grin. “It’s something that we'll gladly do to be able to compete. I'm in a good spot right now. I'm already super-fit.”
Cauley’s first PFL bout — the organization is tournament-based — will be a quarterfinal in the light heavyweight division, taking on Marcelo Nunez from Brazil.
A win means Cauley will advance to the semifinals, fighting again over the summer with hopes of qualifying for the finals in the fall.
It’s a whole new format from the one he competed in with Bellator, but three wins would insert the 28-year-old at the top of the PFL’s light heavyweight division.
The first fight on May 1 will be at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., and will be featured on ESPN 2, beginning at 7 p.m.
“It is a huge opportunity,” said Cauley. “Three fights in this tournament and you're right at that the pinnacle of the division, you know, fighting for the championship. So, I couldn't be more excited.”
There were no guarantees when Bellator was acquired by the PFL that Cauley would have a spot on the roster.
However, Cauley’s brand in the octagon is pure entertainment, showcasing his styles through aggression.
With Bellator, he went 6-1, with six wins by first-round stoppage.
“I have proven that I have a lot of potential and that I'm really exciting,” Cauley said. “I'm going to bring some chaos to the division.
“It's just this is exciting all the way around. It's kind of an affirmation of the work I've done this far in the sport and just like I said, an opportunity to really take my career to the next level.”