Alexandre Pantoja News
Coach Tim Welch weighs in on the Alexandre Pantoja - Sean O’Malley sparring controversy: “I don't even think Sean was a professional yet”
Harry Kettle - May 2, 2024
Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch has weighed in on the recent Alexandre Pantoja/O’Malley sparring controversy. This weekend, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship against Steve Erceg. As you may have heard, though, Pantoja has been talking a great deal in the build-up to this contest.
Steve Erceg expects "bottles to be thrown" at him after he upsets Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
Steve Erceg is expecting a hostile crowd on Saturday when he faces Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Erceg knows Brazilian fans like to get loud and chant ‘You Will Die’ in Portuguese to the opposing fighters. With Erceg fighting for the belt and being the main event, he’s expecting to get booed. Not only is he expecting to get booed, but Erceg thinks people will be throwing stuff at him after he finishes Pantoja at UFC 301.
Michael Bisping taking Alexandre Pantoja to retain flyweight title: "He’s a nasty bastard"
Zain Bando - May 1, 2024
Michael Bisping is all too familiar with playing the underdog role. Despite Steve Erceg’s (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) similar position Saturday at UFC 301, Bisping said he plans to go conservative and pick Alexandre Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) to defend his flyweight title in his home country of Brazil. “Alexandre Pantoja, this man’s phenomenal,” Michael Bisping said. “He’s pretty much gone through the entire flyweight division. Brandon Moreno, the Royvals, the Kapes. You name it, he’s been there and done it. He’s got no weak areas. He’s got a strong mind. He’s resilient. He’s got an amazing gas tank. He can strike. He can wrestle. He’s got world-class jiu-jitsu, and he’s a nasty bastard on top of it.”
UFC 301 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg title fight
Cole Shelton - May 1, 2024
In the main event of UFC 301, the flyweight title is up for grabs as Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his belt against Steve Erceg. Heading into the fight, Pantoja is a -200 favorite while the challenger is a +154 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the flyweight title fight. The pros are unanimous in thinking Pantoja will remain the flyweight champ as they believe this is too big of a step up in competition for Erceg.
Alexandre Pantoja defends UFC flyweights against Sean Strickland's harsh criticism of division: 'Shut your mouth and respect my job!'
Curtis Calhoun - April 30, 2024
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja feels Sean Strickland’s perception of the 125lb division is seriously off-kilter. Pantoja will defend the UFC flyweight title against Steve Erceg this Saturday in the UFC 301 main event. He returns after defeating Brandon Royval in his last title defense at UFC 296 in December.
Fight fans express disappointment over lackluster UFC 301 main card: “Besides Aldo, all prelims”
Harry Kettle - April 30, 2024
Mixed martial arts fans are disappointed to see the state of the upcoming UFC 301 card. This weekend, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The main event will see Alexandre Pantoja defend his UFC flyweight championship against Steve Erceg. While that’s an intriguing championship collision, eyebrows have been raised over the rest of the event’s lineup.
Alexandre Pantoja opens as a sizeable favorite over Steve Erceg ahead of UFC 301 title fight
Cole Shelton - March 19, 2024
Alexandre Pantoja has opened as a sizeable betting favorite ahead of his UFC 301 title fight against Steve Erceg. Pantoja is set to defend his flyweight title for the second time in Brazil on May 4 against the 10th-ranked Erceg. The fight came as a bit of a surprise given Erceg is only 3-0 in the UFC, but due to Pantoja having wins over several top ranked fighters, it made sense for the Aussie to get the title shot.
Alexandre Pantoja admits Steve Erceg was “so lucky” to get a title shot at UFC 301
Harry Kettle - March 19, 2024
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has given his thoughts on his next opponent Steve Erceg. At UFC 301, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship once again. He’ll do so against Steve Erceg, a name that many casual fans won’t be too familiar with.
Muhammad Mokaev expects to face Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 with win over Alex Perez
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2024
Muhammad Mokaev expects to secure a flyweight title shot with a win over Alex Perez on the main card of UFC Vegas 87 on Saturday. Mokaev is set to return to the Octagon to face Perez as it’s a top-10 opponent for the undefeated prospect. It’s a crucial fight for both men, but Mokaev believes he can secure a title shot with a win, as he thinks the UFC wants a fresh matchup for current champ Alexandre Pantoja.
Brandon Royval wants to play spoiler at UFC 301 following split nod over Brandon Moreno: "I'm going to keep spoiling parties"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 25, 2024
Brandon Royval played spoiler at UFC Mexico City, and it’s a role that he can get used to. Royval had a rematch with former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Mexico City last night. The 125-pound scrap went all five rounds and Royval was awarded the split decision victory. Now that Royval got some revenge in enemy territory, he doesn’t feel he’s done ruining homecomings.
Brandon Royval reveals Alexandre Pantoja will be in attendance for his UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno
Cole Shelton - February 21, 2024
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will be in attendance for Saturday’s UFC Mexico City main event which sees Brandon Moreno rematch Brandon Royval. Moreno was supposed to headline the card against Amir Albazi, but the latter was forced to withdraw due to an injury and was replaced by Royval. With Moreno and Royval currently ranked in the top three, the winner of the main event could get the next title shot, despite both men coming off decision losses to Pantoja.
Demetrious Johnson praises 'Dark Horse' Alexandre Pantoja after UFC 296 win: "Full complete skill set"
Josh Evanoff - December 22, 2023
Demetrious Johnson believes Alexandre Pantoja could be the man to bring stability to the UFC’s flyweight division. ‘The Cannibal’ returned to the octagon over the weekend at UFC 296. Facing off against Brandon Royval in the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja dominated. Just two years after submitting ‘Raw Dawg’ in their first encounter, the Brazilian scored a unanimous decision victory. In the process, securing the first title defense of his flyweight reign.
Alexandre Pantoja scolds Colby Covington for personal dig at Leon Edwards' father: "That’s the most bullsh*t trash talking ever"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 17, 2023
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja thinks Colby Covington has crossed a line. Ahead of his UFC 296 title fight against welterweight champion Leon Edwards, Covington made things personal with “Rocky.” Covington vowed to drag his opponent to hell, and then said Edwards would be seeing his late father there. Edwards responded by throwing a bottle at Covington, and he clearly looked to be in a foul mood. Ultimately, Edwards defeated Covington via unanimous decision to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship.
UFC 296 Results: Alexandre Pantoja defeats Brandon Royval (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - December 16, 2023
We have you covered for all of tonight’s UFC 296 results, including the co-main event between Brandon Royval and Alexandre Pantoja. Royval (15-6 MMA) will enter his first career UFC title fight sporting a three-fight win streak, his most recent being a first-round knockout victory over Matheus Nicolau. ‘Raw Dawg’s’ last defeat actually came at the hands of Pantoja, who submitted him with a rear-naked choke.
UFC 296 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2023
In the co-main event of UFC 296, the flyweight title is up for grabs as Alexandre Pantoja takes on Brandon Royval in a rematch of their 2021 fight. Heading into the fight, Pantoja is a -205 favorite while the challenger is a +158 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their picks for the title fight at UFC 296. The pros lean towards Pantoja retaining his flyweight title and likely doing so by submission as he did in the first fight.
Alexandre Pantoja feels Brandon Royval deserves UFC 296 title opportunity: "He's fought with everybody in the top 10"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 10, 2023
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja isn’t going to downplay Brandon Royval as a challenger. Pantoja and Royval are no strangers to one another. Back in August 2021, Pantoja submitted Royval via rear-naked choke in the second round. Since that fight, Royval has gone on a three-fight winning streak. In that span, he’s beaten Rogério Bontorin, Matt Schnell, and Matheus Nicolau. The streak has earned Royval the number two spot on the official UFC flyweight rankings, and a championship opportunity.
Alexandre Pantoja shares his side of disputed sparring session with fellow UFC champion Sean O’Malley
Harry Kettle - September 29, 2023
Alexandre Pantoja has given his side of what happened when he sparred with fellow UFC champion Sean O’Malley. The landscape of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been flipped upside down in recent months. There are new champions everywhere you turn, and that includes flyweight and bantamweight. At 125 pounds, Alexandre Pantoja is the new king of the mountain after toppling Brandon Moreno. At 135, Sean O’Malley finally made his way to the top of the mountain with a TKO win over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.
Brandon Moreno laughs off Alexandre Pantoja's callout of Sean O'Malley: "Don't think anybody cares"
Josh Evanoff - September 15, 2023
Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno isn’t exactly a fan of Alexandre Pantoja vs. Sean O’Malley. ‘The Assassin Baby’ has been out of action since his trilogy bout with ‘The Cannibal’ in July. In the co-main event of UFC 290, the two flyweights put on a show. In the end, it was Alexandre Pantoja who earned the win by split decision, putting Brandon Moreno’s title run to an end.