2021 Professional Fighters League champ Antonio
Carlos Jr. has gone through a great deal in his career, both
mentally and physically.
At the age of 33, Brazilian champion Carlos Jr. has competed an
entire Ultimate Fighting Championship run – ending it
with a record over .500 – and has claimed a million-dollar check in
the ranks of the PFL. It has not always been a land of milk and
honey for the man known as “Cara de Sapato” or “Shoeface,” who
recently revealed he has struggled greatly throughout his life with
multiple mental and physical disorders.
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On the recent taping of the 23rd season of “Big Brother Brasil,”
Carlos Jr. served as a cast member. The show did not end positively
for “Cara de Sapato,” who was expelled from the season along with
Guilherme Dantas – also known as MC Guime – for allegations of
sexual harassment towards guest member Dania Mendez. During the
show’s broadcast, Carlos Jr. shared that he has been dealing with
Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes motor or
vocal tics, since childhood.
The fighter, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s at the age of seven,
also said he suffers from anxiety disorder, a condition often
associated with Tourette’s. Carlos Jr. learned to control and
overcome his difficulties by practicing sports, physical exercise
and meditation. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt explained that
as a child, he suffered a lot thanks to his school friends that
would harass him because of the tics caused by the syndrome. As he
grew, Carlos Jr. learned to deal with his condition, and regained
control over his motor functions.
Now an adult and a well-known personality in the sport and in
Brazil due in part to the reality show, the fighter serves an
example of overcoming the disorder, and wishes to help others who
suffer from the same syndrome. One such example is 12-year-old
Felipe Paca, who is a fan of Carlos Jr. “Cara de Sapato” recorded a
video to share with his young fan, issuing support and praising
Paca for his courage.
Currently living in Florida, Carlos Jr. is in the middle of a
transformative period of his life. He has been focused on his
recovery, having suffered an ACL injury that removed him from 2022
playoff contention in the PFL. The IBJJF world champ and CBJJ
champion is unable to participate in the 2023 season for the PFL,
and the timetable for his return to combat is currently
unclear.