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 primary 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 transferring as much as 135 kilos to combat Merab Dvalishvili. However Pantoja is way more within the present crop of flyweight contenders.
“I’m tremendous excited with that,” Pantoja stated at UFC 317 media day on Wednesday. “Individuals say, ‘You could transfer on to bantamweight’ and no manner, 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. After all, you may have Kyoji [Horiguchi], you may have some good names, Manel Kape’s there.
“I really feel dangerous for Manel Kape, all of the instances he’s near the belt, one thing occurs. I do know he’s an excellent fighter, he has a variety of expertise. I hope to combat with him sooner or later as a result of he’s good. I wish to combat with the most effective guys on the earth, 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 most effective of the most effective 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 contemporary names accessible for Pantoja’s most up-to-date title protection that RIZIN star Kai Asakura was given a direct shot in his UFC debut. Nonetheless, Pantoja sees the glass as being half full for his potential challengers as a result of any contender may very well be one or two spectacular performances away from a championship alternative.
“Final yr, 2024, I believe is the most effective yr for flyweights and folks begin to admire way 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 admire all that. All of the fighters right here from my division, guys name my title, and I give the hope for everyone as a result of I don’t wish 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, possibly I’m subsequent.’ I fought the man No. 10, [Steve] Erceg, the blokes carry me Asakura, now you may have 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 earth, with MMA Fighting having them tied for the No. 3 spot on the P4P list.
Ought to they need to combat at some point, Pantoja wonders if a particular prize may very well be placed on the road as a substitute of one in all their undisputed titles.
“Perhaps 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 a variety of loopy issues, to combat with Merab. Man, it doesn’t matter. Merab is a warrior. He handed via all the things, like myself, and I’ve actual respect about that. I believe by no means O’Malley can beat Merab. He suppose he could make a distinction, Merab made a distinction: he submitted him.
“However after all, I wish to combat the most effective fighters on the earth. If I’ve the chance to combat Merab, after all, 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. After all, he wouldn’t shrink back from testing his grappling in opposition to the relentless Dvalishvili and he expects his sparring companions at American Prime Group in Florida could be greater than as much as the duty of making ready him for such an infinite problem.
“I’m studying rather a lot from my losses after which that makes me a greater fighter,” Pantoja stated. “I believe if Merab attempt to possibly take me down I can use that, I can use my grappling. I’ve excellent jiu-jitsu. I’ve some guys in American Prime Group, I’ve excellent bantamweights at American Prime Group, and I could make an excellent coaching camp for him.
“However, after all, to go to 135, I have to get extra kilos and all the things. I don’t search for that proper now. I’ve my division to guard, to defend, and I like to observe my division combat. Tremendous entertaining fights. Finest cardio within the UFC. In that division, it’s essential be good in all of the conditions, striker, grappler, and I like to combat within the flyweight division.”
