The Primal Instincts of Brent Primus

⚖️ PFL World Tournament 3 Weigh Ins

Lightweight Bout is official!
Brent Primus: 155.6 lbs
Vinicius Cenci: 155.8 lbs

Advertisement

[ #PFLWorldTournament | Friday, April 18th | 📺 7PM EST | ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/b5z0pR81ll

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 17, 2025

Brent Primus feels as though he has been fighting his entire life, though at age 40, his motivations have certainly changed. A Professional Fighters League runner-up in 2024, he returns to the scene with renewed purpose and clear focus in the company’s single-elimination lightweight tournament.

Primus planned to use the eight-man competition as something of a revenge tour, hoping to avenge previous losses and silence doubters who look past him because of his age. The former Bellator MMA champion faces Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci—a late replacement for Alexandr Shabliy—in a lightweight quarterfinal as part of the PFL 2025 World Tournament 3 undercard on Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Primus does not have to look far for inspiration.

“My kids are my life,” he told Sherdog.com. “I don’t think you really realize what love is until you have a family and have kids. I would literally die any second for my kids. They’re my biggest motivation in the world, and I talk to them before my fights [and] after my fights, and last year, they left me a message as I was walking out for my fight. Those moments are when I tell myself there’s no way I’m losing this fight. There’s no motivation like kids. I grew up with my dad in prison my whole life, so it made me want to be a better father.”

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

A troubled childhood led to violence on the streets and the difficulties that often accompany it. Mixed martial arts provided Primus with a way out. He has compiled a 15-4 record with one no contest across his 20 professional appearances. Primus claims the self-centeredness that once defined him has been replaced by the drive to provide.

“Early on in my career, it was all about me and my legacy, proving people wrong and everything like that,” he said. “Now, it’s 100% about my kids. I’m trying to show them that you can do anything that you want if you believe in yourself and work your butt off. I’m trying to give my kids a better life than I had. I had a mom that worked her butt off, and while we didn’t always have everything we wanted, we had what we needed. Now, I’m just trying to give my kids everything I can. That’s the goal about being a dad: giving your kids a better life than you had.”

Primus was a fan of the PFL’s regular-season points format—it guaranteed him a minimum of two fights—but welcomes the challenge a single-elimination tournament poses.

“I did enjoy the points system because it forced fighters to fight kind of reckless, crazy and exciting, but this tournament is going to be good, too,” he said. “This is awesome. I love the PFL, and I’m excited.”

Naysayers supply Primus with additional incentive.

“Supposedly I’m getting old, and I want to go out there and show them that age is just a number,” he said. “I feel good. I’m in the gym sparring the young pros, and I’m kicking their butt. I’m going out there to show 40 is not old.”

Although, he will not have a chance to avenge a previous loss to Shabliy, Primus could do so against Gadzhi Rabadanov should they rematch one another in the tournament championship. He could not care less about those who do not want to see a second encounter between the two. Rabadanov put away the Eugene, Oregon, native with punches in the third round of their 2024 final.

“I’m going to try and be humble, but yes, middle fingers to everyone,” Primus said. “This is my vengeance tour.”