Emiliano Sordi hunts quick finish in PFL Sioux Falls return

Emiliano Sordi may have been gone for a while, but he was not forgotten.

The one-time Professional Fighters League tournament winner will return to the promotion for the first time since 2022 when he meets Simeon Powell in a PFL Sioux Falls light heavyweight showcase on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota. Sordi went 7-4-1 during his first run with the company, which included a five-fight winning streak and million-dollar tournament win in 2019. He comes back to the organization, which has shifted from a tournament-based format to a more traditional rankings system, on the heels of three straight victories.

“I’m super excited to be back,” Sordi told Sherdog.com. “There is a new format, but it’s the same exact sport and the same exact cage. My job is to just go in there and fight. I don’t care about whether there’s a tournament or no tournament. I love to fight. I’m so excited to be back inside the PFL.”

A world class welterweight clash headlines PFL Sioux Falls: Tune in Saturday, May 2 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

During his time away from the PFL, Sordi competed in the Fusion Fighting Championship, Xtreme Fighting Championships and Fight Nation Championship promotions. He also made a one-fight appearance in Karate Combat.

“I love to fight, and I don’t just love to fight, I need to fight,” Sordi said. “I’m not doing this only for money or to be popular. I love to fight, and right now, I get a chance to fight in one of the biggest shows in the world. In my opinion, PFL is one of the biggest shows in the world. I’m so happy now to be back at home with this promotion.”

Sordi has fought professionally for almost two decades. He carries a 27-13-1 record into his showdown with Powell, having secured 25 of those 27 wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

“This is what I’ve done for the last 20 years of my life,” Sordi said. “It’s like if you have a soccer player. You get the ball, what are you going to do? Exactly the same with me. This is what I do, two or three times a day. I’m training two or three times a day. I really just love to fight. I enjoy the moment of the fight. I enjoy the entire fight week, fight night [and] before and after the fight, as well. When I’m at my best, I’m fighting, so I want to keep fighting.”