Alexandre Pantoja is back in the gym, and he is not happy about it. The Brazilian flyweight champion’s first defense against Joshua Van lasted just 26 seconds before a freak dislocated elbow ended the fight and his title reign. Now Pantoja is looking at a rematch on Saturday night at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, and he wants everyone to remember what he has done.
Pantoja, 36, went back to training just two days after the injury, with one arm in a sling. He says the quick return was necessary to maintain his shape. “I [went back] to the gym because I knew if I take too much time off, it’s going to be very tough to get back to my shape and this level,” he told CBS Sports. “Since my injury, I haven’t stopped. I was back to training with one arm in the gym and doing physical therapy.”
The Injury That Changed Everything
The first fight at UFC 323 was supposed to be a routine defense. Instead, Van caught a high kick attempt, pushed Pantoja to the ground, and caused the dislocation. The referee stopped the fight after 26 seconds, and Van won by TKO. Pantoja lost his title, but he insists the result was not earned.
“I lost for myself [due to the injury],” Pantoja said. “He didn’t beat me. I lost the fight and I lost my belt. I’m not the champion anymore. But it’s not as if someone beat me.” He added that he has never trained to push someone to break their arm. “I have 20 years of professional fighting, I never made a drill to push someone to break their arm like that.”
A Champion’s Record
Pantoja’s path to the top was unusual. He moved to Florida in 2018 to train full-time at American Top Team, and his career took off. He reached No. 4 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings thanks to an 8-fight win streak that included victories over Manel Kape, Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France, and Kai Asakura. He became the first men’s flyweight in UFC history to win a title bout after turning 35.
“I fought the best fighters in my division,” Pantoja said. “I beat some guys three times. I had eight [wins] in a row with the best fighters. I beat Manel Kape, Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France. The [UFC] brought Kai Asakura from another promotion and I beat him this guy, too.”
He acknowledged the recognition has not come easily. “People maybe don’t give me the recognition,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of recognition but, for me, it’s OK. What I want is to be the best fighter in the world.”
The Underdog Position
Pantoja was nearly a 3-to-1 betting favorite against Van last December. Now he is the underdog entering the rematch. He says that suits him.
“I have a champion to fight, I don’t have a challenger,” Pantoja said. “Joshua Van is the champion and I have nothing to lose in this fight. I have had this position before. I’m not going to be afraid of excuses, I go to conquer.”
He also noted the changes since his last fight. “Everything has changed since my last fight,” he said. “I have a champion to fight, I don’t have a challenger. Joshua Van is the champion and I have nothing to lose in this fight. I have had this position before. I’m not going to be afraid of excuses, I go to conquer.”
The Rematch at UFC 331
The fight airs live on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET. Pantoja says he wants to prove he is still the best fighter in the world. He also noted the broader stakes for the sport.
“If former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo deserves credit for ultimately saving the 125-pound division in the aftermath of Demetrious Johnson’s legendary title reign, when UFC brass was considering folding it, Pantoja deserves the respect for bringing consistency to it following a memorable four-fight series between Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo when the belt constantly switched hands,” he said.
Key Facts Box
- Fight: Van vs. Pantoja at UFC 331
- Date/Time: Saturday night, 9 p.m. ET, Paramount+
- Location: Los Angeles
- Pantoja’s record: 30-6
- First fight duration: 26 seconds
- Last fight result: Van wins by TKO
- Pantoja’s position: Former champion, now underdog
Pantoja’s argument is simple: he did not lose to Van. He lost to an injury. The rankings dropped him, but he believes the results speak for themselves. Now he gets one more chance to prove it.
He is not going to be afraid of excuses, he says. He goes to conquer.
See the video the story is built around at CBS Sports.
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