Reigning UFC flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja was just lately requested if he would contemplate transferring as much as bantamweight.
Pantoja has already defended his strap 4 instances, and in December at UFC 323, he’ll look to defend it for the fifth time when he locks horns with Joshua Van.
Forward of the title combat, in an interview with TMZ Sports activities, ‘The Cannibal’ stated that he would contemplate transferring as much as 135 kilos if Sean O’Malley have been nonetheless the champion. Nevertheless, with ‘The Machine’ ruling the division now, Pantoja would quite have Merab Dvalishvili come down and combat him. He stated:
“Ten kilos for me is rather more than for different guys. If O’Malley obtained the belt, then I’d say I’m able to go, however with Merab, it’s completely different. Perhaps if he comes right down to flyweight, it’s gonna be simple for me.”
Take a look at Alexandre Pantoja’s feedback under:
Dvalishvili turned the UFC bantamweight champion at UFC 306 after dethroning Sean O’Malley. In 2025, ‘The Machine’ defended his strap efficiently for the primary time when he confronted Umar Nurmagomedov and received by unanimous choice. For his second title protection, Dvalishvili ran it again with ‘Suga’ and submitted the latter in spherical three. In October, he locked horns with Cory Sandhagen and received by unanimous choice.
This December, ‘The Machine’ will run it again with Petr Yan at UFC 323, as he makes an attempt to be the primary UFC champion to have defended the belt 4 instances in 12 months. For now, the Georgian has no plans of transferring up or down a division, as he just lately declared on Pound 4 Pound.
Alexandre Pantoja lauds Merab Dvalishvili, amongst others
With UFC champions like Merab Dvalishvili, Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria, Khamzat Chimaev, and Alexandre Pantoja himself, the latter declared in the identical interview that fashionable MMA followers are the luckiest, as the present champions have made the game extra interesting and taught different opponents to “degree up.
Throughout the identical TMZ Sports activities interview, ‘The Cannibal’ stated:
“You see Merab, Ilia, Islam – the fellows are exhibiting everyone to degree up. If you wish to conquer the UFC belt, it is advisable degree up. It’s probably the greatest eras for MMA followers, the place you don’t know who’s the pound-for-pound when you’ve got Merab, Islam, Ilia, Chimaev, and myself. It’s superb to be a part of a time like this.”
Take a look at Alexandre Pantoja’s feedback under:
