“Sully” is back!
Former top Bellator Light Heavyweight prospect Sullivan Cauley was victorious in his promotional debut at PFL 4 this evening (Thurs., May 1, 2025), stopping Professional Fighters League (PFL) veteran Alex Polizzi with brutal elbows against the cage in the first round at the back lot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Fla.
Within seconds of the fight, Polizzi shot for a takedown and was successful, trapping Cauley’s legs and pinning him against the fence. However, Cauley eventually returned to his feet, and while Polizzi continued working for a low-leg takedown, Cauley unleashed devastating elbows (reminiscent of Travis Browne) and a couple of punches that forced the referee to stop the fight.
Watch the finish below:
Immediately after the fight, Polizzi and his corner protested the stoppage. But they weren’t the only ones, as fight fans thought all of Cauley’s offense was illegal.
not a single legal shot
— J MMA (@JacobTweetsBS) May 2, 2025
Back of the head shots legal in the pfl?
— Patsfan25 (@Patsfan251) May 2, 2025
Polizzi’s teammate, former UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, even jumped in on the conversation.
Every single punch was illegal?
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) May 2, 2025
Nevertheless, Cauley (7-1) will advance to the semi-finals against the winner of the PFL main event between Phil Davis and Rob Wilkinson.
“Sully” had been out of action since Bellator 298 with a very bad knee injury that kept him sidelined for two years, which forced him to miss the previous PFL tournaments.
For all the latest PFL news and notes click here.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
