In a sport that rarely celebrates its softer side, Emiliano Sordi continues to stand out for reasons that go far beyond wins and losses. The former PFL light heavyweight champion turned his career-defining seven-figure payday into a lifeline for people back home in Argentina.
Sordi carved his name into PFL history in 2019 when he stormed through the light heavyweight playoffs, winning five fights in a single calendar year to claim the promotion’s coveted $1 million prize. For most fighters, that kind of money signals a long-awaited moment of personal reward. For Sordi, it became a responsibility.
As the global pandemic tightened its grip on Argentina, the Rio Cuarto native saw firsthand how badly his community was hurting. Rather than sit on his winnings, he chose to act.
“I tried to use this that happened to me to help friends and people in my city,” Sordi said in Spanish during an appearance on Hablemos MMA. “I live in Rio Cuarto. It’s a very small city, maybe 180,000 inhabitants. The people had it very bad. Everything here is very rough. The economy is very bad. The situation is looking very ugly.”
With special permits from the local municipality, Emiliano Sordi and a small group of friends went out several times a week, delivering food to families who had been pushed to the brink.
“During the quarantine, a few times we were allowed to leave during the week,” Sordi explained. “We would go out twice or three times a week, sometimes one, and we would give out food. We started giving food to about 300 people, and we got to a point where we gave food to 3,000.”
Using a neighborhood clubhouse kitchen, Sordi helped cook and package meals before handing them out himself. He didn’t splurge. He didn’t travel. He didn’t celebrate.
“So economically, I didn’t enjoy any of the $1 million prize,” he said. “I didn’t buy anything. I didn’t go on vacation. I was locked at home. But I used those resources to help people who were going through a rough time.”
The experience left a lasting emotional impact.
“It broke my soul watching children, like 5 or 10 years old, telling me that they hadn’t eaten in three days,” Sordi said. “Or that their mother would only drink tea so they could eat. It was a tough experience, but it gave us an even bigger desire to keep helping.”
That generosity cemented Emiliano Sordi as one of MMA’s rare genuine good guys. However, years later, his name is back in the headlines for a very different reason.
The former PFL champion has publicly accused Karate Combat of failing to pay him following his promotional debut. Sordi knocked out UFC veteran Zac Pauga in the first round back in October, yet says he’s still waiting on his agreed purse.
“It has been almost two months since I fought for Karate Combat, and I still haven’t been paid,” Sordi wrote on X. “After multiple false promises of payment, the CEO of the company stopped responding altogether. I did my part. I trained, I showed up, and I fought. I’m still waiting for them to honor what they owe.”
“This isn’t just about me,” Sordi added. “Fighters deserve respect, professionalism, and to be paid on time. Honoring contracts is not optional.”
Rumors have since circulated about financial instability within Karate Combat, including recent event delays that raised eyebrows across the combat sports community. Meanwhile, Sordi hasn’t slowed down. Since that October win, he’s already competed again, defeating Tom Breese under the Fight Nation Championship banner in Croatia.
Whether it’s giving away a million dollars to feed struggling families or speaking out for fighter rights, Emiliano Sordi continues to move through MMA on his own terms. Inside or outside the cage, his actions keep proving that character still matters in this sport.
