Demetrious Johnson didn't hide his celebration when he saw Alexandre Pantoja 's defeat at UFC 323, held last Saturday (6). The Brazilian, who was looking to equal the American's record for title defenses, faced Joshua Van in the co-main event and ended up being defeated after suffering an arm injury . Although the outcome was accidental, the former champion found room to enjoy the moment with good humor.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Johnson highlighted that his historic record remains intact and emphasized the difficulties of staying on top for so long. He noted that the sport is unpredictable and that repeating great performances countless times requires a level of consistency and endurance that few can achieve.
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“Hey guys, guess what? The streak of 11 consecutive title defenses remains intact… I mean, that’s part of the game, folks. Continuing to go in there and do that over and over again is tough. It’s a sport where anything can happen,” said Demetrious Johnson.
Demetrious Johnson vs. Alexandre Pantoja at UFC
Alexandre Pantoja celebrates his fourth UFC flyweight title defense. Photo: Reproduction X/UFC
Demetrious Johnson is widely recognized as one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. The American won the flyweight title (up to 56,7 kg) by defeating Joseph Benavidez in 2012 and accumulated 11 consecutive title defenses before being defeated by Henry Cejudo in a split decision in 2018.
Alexandre Pantoja , on the other hand, went through a path marked by highs and lows until he competed for his first title, when he beat Brandon Moreno in 2023. From then on, the Brazilian had four successful defenses and was approaching Johnson's record, until he was defeated by Joshua Van last Saturday (6).
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