Alexandre Pantoja (left) before his first fight with Joshua Van (right). Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFCESPANOL
Alexandre Pantoja seeks to recover the flyweight belt (up to 56,7 kg) in the rematch against Joshua Van , at UFC 331 , which takes place next Saturday (19), in Los Angeles, USA. The Brazilian won the category title in 2023 and defended the belt four times before leaving the position after suffering an injury in the first fight against the new champion.
In an exclusive interview with SUPER LUTAS , Pantoja analyzed Joshua Van 's evolution since their first encounter and highlighted a factor that could make a difference in the rematch. The experienced fighter gave his point of view on possible mistakes made by his opponent in his last fight against Tastsuro Taira at UFC 328 in May.
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“He really left some openings there. Tatsuro is also a very young fighter, he has a lot to grow, a lot to be careful about, but also, in a way, this helps Joshua Van not to make the same mistakes he made. I believe he will come with an evolution there, he has even more to evolve, but I think it's a great opportunity for me. I like to emphasize this point, I want to fight the best version of Joshua Van possible, because I am in my best possible version and I am always looking to evolve,” said Alexandre Pantoja.
The Brazilian also highlighted the high technical level expected for the rematch and stated that the fight could be a great spectacle for the fans. Pantoja explained why he considers the flyweight division one of the most technical in the UFC.
“The fans are the ones who benefit from this. It’s great entertainment, with two highly skilled athletes representing a category that is very technical. In my opinion, the flyweight division is the most technical in the UFC, where you have fighters who are very fast, quick, and strong, also showing knockout power. The real winners are the fans,” concluded the former champion.
Pantoja's career path in professional MMA.
Pantoja with his UFC belts. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/pantoja_oficial
At 36 years old, Alexandre Pantoja is one of the top names in the UFC and one of the most successful fighters in the flyweight division. A professional since 2007, the Brazilian has a record of 30 wins and six losses, notably with eight knockout victories and 12 submission wins. Pantoja has achieved remarkable victories over Manel Kape , Brandon Moreno , Brandon Royval , Steve Erceg , and Kai Kara France.
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