Promising undefeated lightweight fighter, Manoel Sousa, has taken legal action against the Professional Fighters League (PFL) after being denied an opportunity to compete in Dana White’s Contender Series in August.

The lawsuit was filed by Sousa’s lawyer, Marcelo Henrique Antunes da Palma, who claimed that the PFL’s contract was written in English, leaving his client, who is functionally illiterate in Portuguese, without knowledge of the terms he signed up for.

Sousa won the PFL Challenger Series event earlier this year, hoping to secure a place in the million-dollar season in 2023, but the promotion did not offer him a deal despite a victory in his last fight over Paulo Henrique, which he described as a “bloody three-round fight”.

The Brazilian fighter had to turn down a subsequent PFL Challenger Series event after a COVID-19 infection. Sousa claimed that he thought he was a free agent and was surprised when the offer came from DWCS but was denied the chance to participate.

The PFL hasn’t commented on the legal proceedings. Sousa’s lawyer has filed a case in Sao Paulo, Brazil, indicating that the contract terms weren’t clear, and the fighter believed he would be a free agent if PFL didn’t sign him after the fight he believed to be the only one in the deal. Instead, the contract, Sousa claims, holds him for three years.

Sousa has been training hard, hoping to realize his dream of fighting in the UFC. He is disappointed with the way things have been handled, as Sousa lived in the gym, honing his skills every day. He expressed concern when he realized he was still tied to the PFL when the offer came from DWCS in August.

According to Sousa’s lawsuit, PFL’s action of not allowing him to participate would hinder his development as a fighter as they want to keep him under their umbrella, citing “commercial whim.”

Sousa’s inactivity since February is a source of worry, and he remains uncertain when he can participate in competitive fighting again. The case will determine whether Sousa remains bound by PFL’s contract or can move and compete elsewhere.