Alexandre Pantoja turning into a two-division champion? Don’t maintain your breath.
UFC 317 options one fighter vying for that standing as former featherweight king Ilia Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira for a vacant light-weight title in the principle occasion. One combat earlier than that, Pantoja goes for his fourth consecutive protection of his flyweight title when he takes on Kai Kara-France.
Ought to Pantoja get his hand raised once more, he’ll undoubtedly hear renewed requires him to contemplate shifting as much as 135 kilos to combat Merab Dvalishvili. However Pantoja is far more within the present crop of flyweight contenders.
“I’m tremendous excited with that,” Pantoja stated at UFC 317 media day on Wednesday. “Folks say, ‘You should transfer on to bantamweight’ and no approach, man. You’ve got so many entertaining fights right here. Joshua Van, that’s loopy. The man, he grabbed The Golden Ticket from The Willy Wonka Manufacturing facility, he have the ticket, that’s tremendous loopy. If he will get previous [Brandon] Royval, he’s the subsequent in line. In fact, you’ve gotten Kyoji [Horiguchi], you’ve gotten some good names, Manel Kape’s there.
“I really feel unhealthy for Manel Kape, all of the occasions he’s near the belt, one thing occurs. I do know he’s an excellent fighter, he has quite a lot of abilities. I hope to combat with him sooner or later as a result of he’s good. I wish to combat with the very best guys on the planet, that’s what I like. That’s it.”
It’s not unreasonable for followers to wish to see Pantoja change divisions for a brand new problem.
The 35-year-old Brazilian has crushed the very best of the very best at flyweight, a few of them twice together with Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval (even Kara-France is a rematch of types. Pantoja outpointed Kara-France in a two-round exhibition bout once they competed on The Final Fighter).
There was such a scarcity of recent names obtainable for Pantoja’s most up-to-date title protection that RIZIN star Kai Asakura was given an instantaneous shot in his UFC debut. Nonetheless, Pantoja sees the glass as being half full for his potential challengers as a result of any contender could possibly be one or two spectacular performances away from a championship alternative.
“Final 12 months, 2024, I feel is the very best 12 months for flyweights and folks begin to respect far more that division,” Pantoja stated. “Now you may say 10 names, 50 names from the flyweight division, and that’s so good. I’m the champ of that and I can respect all that. All of the fighters right here from my division, guys name my identify, and I give the hope for everyone as a result of I don’t prefer to look cocky and say that, however I’ll clear my division. I combat with all people earlier than I get the belt. Now, all people thinks they’ve an opportunity to combat.
“Everyone have hope, ‘Hey, perhaps I’m subsequent.’ I fought the man No. 10, [Steve] Erceg, the blokes carry me Asakura, now you’ve gotten Kai Kara-France, now Joshua Van coming, Kyoji Horiguchi. That’s tremendous good.”
That stated, Pantoja wished to make it clear he would welcome a combat with Dvalishvili. The 2 are among the many finest pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, with MMA Preventing having them tied for the No. 3 spot on the P4P listing.
Ought to they need to combat sooner or later, Pantoja wonders if a particular prize could possibly be placed on the road as a substitute of one among their undisputed titles.
“Possibly create a ‘BMF’ for gentle guys, I don’t know,” Pantoja stated. “I’ve big respect for Merab. When [Sean] O’Malley stated he stopped smoking, he stopped doing quite a lot of loopy issues, to combat with Merab. Man, it doesn’t matter. Merab is a warrior. He handed by way of all the pieces, like myself, and I’ve actual respect about that. I feel by no means O’Malley can beat Merab. He suppose he could make a distinction, Merab made a distinction: he submitted him.
“However in fact, I wish to combat the very best fighters on the planet. If I’ve the chance to combat Merab, in fact, I’d settle for. However it’s not one thing I actually search for. I’ve my division, I’m tremendous excited with that division.”
Addressing how he would match up with Dvalishvili, Pantoja responded that he has loads of bulking as much as do earlier than that potential combat. In fact, he wouldn’t draw back from testing his grappling in opposition to the relentless Dvalishvili and he expects his sparring companions at American High Workforce in Florida can be greater than as much as the duty of getting ready him for such an infinite problem.
“I’m studying quite a bit from my losses after which that makes me a greater fighter,” Pantoja stated. “I feel if Merab attempt to perhaps take me down I can use that, I can use my grappling. I’ve superb jiu-jitsu. I’ve some guys in American High Workforce, I’ve superb bantamweights at American High Workforce, and I could make an excellent coaching camp for him.
“However, in fact, to go to 135, I have to get extra kilos and all the pieces. I don’t search for that proper now. I’ve my division to guard, to defend, and I really like to look at my division combat. Tremendous entertaining fights. Greatest cardio within the UFC. In that division, you want to be good in all of the conditions, striker, grappler, and I like to combat within the flyweight division.”
