Renan Ferreira, Matheus Scheffel Focused on Earning Quick Finish at PFL 5

Renan Ferreira and Matheus Scheffel both suffered losses in the first leg of the 2023 PFL season.

However, the Brazilian heavyweights have new life after opponents Rizvan Kuniev and Bruno Cappelozza tested positive for banned substances in relation to their fights.

Ferreira and Scheffel likely need a victory to advance to the PFL heavyweight postseason, and both are focused on earning the six points that come with a first-round finish. Ferreira and Scheffel will square off on the PFL 5 main card on Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

“I'm not going to lose that second chance,” Ferreira told Sherdog.com. “Matheus has heavy hands, but I'm 100% focused on getting a quick victory to guarantee a place in the playoff.

While the 6-foot-9 Ferreira, who was nicknamed “Problema” due to the difficulties he gave his sparring partners, might be perceived as the favorite, Scheffel isn’t fazed by the odds.

“In all my fights I go in as if it were my debut,” he said. “I’m still in the fight for first place in the first phase. This was one of the best camps of my entire career and I'm going to show it in the fight.

“I'm going in to fight like I always do, always looking for a knockout or submission. Renan is a big guy and if he is a 'Problem', you can be sure that I am the ‘Solution.’”