Alexandre Pantoja News

Alexandre Pantoja and Sean O'Malley
Sean O'Malley

Alexandre Pantoja details the time he "smashed" Sean O'Malley in sparring

Cole Shelton - April 30, 2024

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja claims he smashed Sean O’Malley when they sparred years ago. Pantoja and O’Malley have spoken about their sparring in the past, as both have different versions of what happened. However, ahead of his flyweight title defense at UFC 301, Pantoja says he smashed O’Malley in sparring, and it was so bad ‘Suga’ wouldn’t send the Brazilian the sparring footage.

Alexandre Pantoja, Sean Strickland
Sean Strickland

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.

Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg
UFC

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 and Steve Erceg
UFC

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, Steve Erceg
UFC

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg official for UFC 301 in Brazil

Josh Evanoff - March 15, 2024

UFC flyweight Alexandre Pantoja will defend the gold at home against the rising Steve Erceg in May. ‘The Cannibal’ is in a bit of a weird spot. As Alexandre Pantoja has pointed out on several occasions, he’s already defeated most top contenders at 125 pounds. As of now, the flyweight champion has scored victories over Brandon Moreno three times, Brandon Royval twice, and wins over the likes of Manel Kape and Alex Perez.

Muhammad Mokaev and Alexandre Pantoja
Muhammad Mokaev

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
Brandon Royval

Brandon Royval wants to play spoiler at UFC 301 following split nod over Brandon Moreno: "I'm going to keep spoiling parties"

Fernando Quiles - 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 and Alexandre Pantoja
Brandon Royval

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.

Leon Edwards, Colby Covington, UFC 296
Brandon Royval

What's next for the stars of UFC 296?

Cole Shelton - December 18, 2023

The UFC closed out 2023 with a solid UFC 296 card from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada that saw two titles on the lines. In the main event of UFC 296, Leon Edwards was looking to defend his welterweight title for the second time as he took on Colby Covington. The co-main event saw Alexandre Pantoja searching for his first title defense against Brandon Royval.

Alexandre Pantoja Colby Covington
Colby Covington

Alexandre Pantoja scolds Colby Covington for personal dig at Leon Edwards' father: "That’s the most bullsh*t trash talking ever"

Fernando Quiles - 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.

Alexandre Pantoja, Brandon Royval, UFC 296, UFC, Results
Brandon Royval

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.

Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval
Brandon Royval

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.

Sean O'Malley, Alexandre Pantoja
Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley responds after Alexandre Pantoja claims he “doesn’t want to show the world” their sparring footage

Harry Kettle - October 11, 2023

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has responded to Alexandre Pantoja’s suggestion that he doesn’t want to show people their past sparring footage. Sean O’Malley and Alexandre Pantoja, in their own ways, are considered to be surprise champions as we near the end of 2023. O’Malley was seen as an underdog against Aljamain Sterling, and many were also surprised to see Pantoja overcome Brandon Moreno.

Sean O'Malley, Alexandre Pantoja
Sean O'Malley

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 and Alexandre Pantoja
Brandon Moreno

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.

Brandon Royval and Alexandre Pantoja
Brandon Royval

Brandon Royval hints at impending Alexandre Pantoja fight announcement: "And New"

Josh Evanoff - August 31, 2023

It appears that Brandon Royval is next for UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. ‘The Cannibal’ has been out of action since his trilogy with Brandon Moreno last month at UFC 290. There, the two turned in a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate, going back and forth for five rounds. In the end, it was Alexandre Pantoja who got the nod by split decision, ending the title run of ‘The Assassin Baby’.

Alexandre Pantoja
UFC

Alexandre Pantoja enters the pound-for-pound rankings following title win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290

Susan Cox - July 11, 2023

Alexandre Pantoja has entered the pound-for-pound rankings following title win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290. UFC 290 took place last Saturday, July 8th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Alexander Volkanovski, Yair Rodriguez and UFC 290
Alexandre Pantoja

What's next for the stars of UFC 290?

Cole Shelton - July 10, 2023

The annual International Fight Week card took place on Saturday night in Las Vegas and UFC 290 did not disappoint. In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski was defending his featherweight title against the interim champ, Yair Rodriguez. The co-main event saw Brandon Moreno looking to defend his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja in their third meeting.