PFL 2025 World Tournament Dark Horse: Sullivan Cauley

The true meaning of a dark horse may be hard to determine given that it often relates to an underdog. That has not always been the case in the Professional Fighters League. As it relates to the light heavyweight bracket, the dark horse has taken the form of an extremely talented competitor.

Out of action since 2023, Sullivan Cauley—a highly touted prospect and accomplished wrestler who spent his collegiate career at Arizona State University—will make his promotional debut when his light heavyweight quarterfinal opposite Marcelo Nunes helps buoy the PFL 2025 World Tournament 4 undercard on Thursday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Cauley, at 6-1, plans to move forward with a clear vision and mindset.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Thursday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Having spent his entire pro career with Bellator MMA before the PFL merger, Cauley had to get healthy and wait for an opportunity to present itself. The 28-year-old enters the light heavyweight tournament as one of its youngest competitors, but as a longtime training partner of Ryan Bader and with his collegiate wrestling background in tow, he does not figure to be a pushover for anyone.

In a recent interview with Sherdog.com, Cauley discussed how he learned how to appreciate life outside of his fighting career, which in turn made his desire to become world champion even stronger. He discovered a greater love for the sport through finding peace in his personal and business ventures. It allowed him to reset himself physically and mentally, and he sees the PFL tournament as a way to reintroduce the world to his talents.

Cauley also thinks he might be getting overlooked by pundits and other competitors, and he plans to wrap all the frustration together and unleash it in the PFL SmartCage. He opens the tournament against Nunes, who owns a 4-1 mark in the PFL. Cauley carries an impressive streak with him, as all seven of his bouts have concluded inside one round. Simply put, he prefers to put on a show and put opponents away as quickly as possible.

“Sully” has learned from some of the best during his rise through the MMA ranks; he challenged himself throughout his collegiate career; and he hit the ground running as soon as he entered the world of full-contact fighting. Armed with a refreshed mind and body, Cauley hopes to seize upon his most significant opportunity to date, as the PFL affords him the chance to become a world champion and cash in on a $500,000 grand prize.