Alexandre Pantoja believes that Sean O’Malley has broken the first rule of MMA fight clubs: never talk about what goes on in MMA fight clubs. Alexandre Pantoja is especially a stickler for this rule when what is spoken involves a tale of him being knoc…
Alexandre Pantoja believes that Sean O’Malley has broken the first rule of MMA fight clubs: never talk about what goes on in MMA fight clubs. Alexandre Pantoja is especially a stickler for this rule when what is spoken involves a tale of him being knocked unconscious. This is precisely the tale that “Suga” Sean O’Malley […]
Alexandre Pantoja is obsessed with rematching UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. It was just last year that Deiveson Figueiredo and Alexandre Pantoja battled in a “Fight of the Night” battle. Pantoja came out on the losing end while Figueiredo…
Alexandre Pantoja is obsessed with rematching UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. It was just last year that Deiveson Figueiredo and Alexandre Pantoja battled in a “Fight of the Night” battle. Pantoja came out on the losing end while Figueiredo went on to win his next four fights, including capturing the undisputed flyweight championship. Aside from […]
Next up on the UFC Vegas 18 main card is a flyweight clash between Alexandre Pantoja and the debuting Manel Kape. Round 1: Pantoja is aggressive early on as he puts the pressure on Kape. Pantoja lands a couple of body kicks. Kape defends a takedown attempt. He lands a jab but receives a leg […]
Next up on the UFC Vegas 18 main card is a flyweight clash between Alexandre Pantoja and the debuting Manel Kape.
Round 1: Pantoja is aggressive early on as he puts the pressure on Kape. Pantoja lands a couple of body kicks. Kape defends a takedown attempt. He lands a jab but receives a leg kick from Pantoja in response. Pantoja lands a body kick and follows it up with a big leg kick. Kape continues to stay on the outside and move but hasn’t really thrown a lot of strikes. Kape eats a body kick and then goes for a cartwheel kick only to find himself on the ground. Pantoja looks to land ground and pound. The round comes to an end with Kape failing on a takedown attempt.
Round 2: A better round from Kape who continues to pick his shots. Pantoja continues with his onslaught of strikes as he only lands a couple that he’s throwing such as a body kick. Kape lands a leg kick. Pantoja responds with a right hand. Not a lot of action in this fight overall but even more so in this round as neither fighter is taking many chances. Kape goes for a takedown attempt and gets Pantoja down to end the round.
Round 3: Pantoja lands a body kick. Pantoja goes on a flurry but fails to hurt Kape like much of this fight while the latter looks to land the perfect counter strike. Kape eats another a body kick. Kape goes for a jab and looks to get more active but Pantoja lands a combination that ends in a head kick that connects. Kape eats it and mockingly acts like he’s wobbled. Kape is the one advancing forward now and blocks a body kick. Pantoja lands a leg kick. Pantoja complains of an eye poke but the referee didn’t see it as Kape looks for the kill. Pantoja is fine as they continue striking before Kape takes him down. Pantoja gets up and lands a knee on his way up. Kape looks for another takedown but ends up controlling Pantoja along the fence as the fight ends.
Official result: Alexandre Pantoja defeats Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
UFC flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja is certainly taking the COVID-19 virus seriously now. The Brazilian was set to take on former RIZIN champion Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 17 on December 19. However, he had to pull out after testing positive for COVID-19. And unlike other fighters who suffered only mild symptoms and recovered soon […]
UFC flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja is certainly taking the COVID-19 virus seriously now.
The Brazilian was set to take on former RIZIN champion Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 17 on December 19. However, he had to pull out after testing positive for COVID-19.
And unlike other fighters who suffered only mild symptoms and recovered soon after, it wasn’t the same case for Pantoja.
“COVID put an end to a scheduled fight,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie. “I caught the illness some two weeks back. I had nearly every symptom, except for lack of oxygen. I had a fever that lasted an entire week. I felt very unwell. I tried to get back to training, but it wasn’t possible. I felt very fatigued, which never happens otherwise. I lost my senses of taste and smell.
“This an illness that’s hard to believe until you catch it. Once you do catch it, you see how harmful it can be. It affected me greatly. I was looking forward to showcasing my skills against Manel Kape. Manel is very competitive and likes to move forward, like I do. He also likes to put on a show.”
Instead, Kape is now serving as the backup for the upcoming flyweight title fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno at UFC 256 this weekend. However, Pantoja claims his fight with Kape is in the works to get rebooked for February.
As for the overall state of the division? Things are looking up for it according to Pantoja — especially after it was previously believed last year that UFC president Dana White would scrap the division entirely.
“I’m very excited about the way the UFC refreshed the flyweight division,” Pantoja said. “They’ve added great fighters – I believe I’m one of them. We’re fighters who always look for a KO or submission, and we’re making the division stand out even more. Our weight class used to be very critiqued. I never saw it in a negative way. I always saw a very competitive division, from Demetrious Johnson, one of the greatest of all-time, to Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, who held two UFC belts. Other fighters like Joseph Benavidez also did a beautiful job.
“And after Deiveson Figueiredo showed up, he cleaned out the division. I had a tough fight against him. I made a few errors. I want to get back to my winning ways. I still have a lot to show. Unfortunately, I’m coming off a loss to Askar Askarov, who fought me in a very ‘bureaucratic’ way. It was the type of fight no one gets excited about, and no one wants to see. But he was efficient, nullified my game, and got the win.
“Overall, our weight class has been doing great. We’re putting on a strong showing. Many of the fights are ending via finish, and many flyweight fighters have earned ‘of the night’ bonuses. I see great fighters like Kai Kara-France, and Brandon Royval, who just fought Brandon Moreno. They’re all doing a great job. I feel very happy for our division.”
Kicking off the UFC Fight Island 2 main card is a flyweight bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Askar Askarov. Round 1: Pantoja starts with a superman punch. Askarov goes for a takedown but Pantoja reverses with a guillotine. Askarov escapes and is now in Pantoja’s guard. Pantoja attempts a triangle and an armbar but Askarov […]
Kicking off the UFC Fight Island 2 main card is a flyweight bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Askar Askarov.
Round 1: Pantoja starts with a superman punch. Askarov goes for a takedown but Pantoja reverses with a guillotine. Askarov escapes and is now in Pantoja’s guard. Pantoja attempts a triangle and an armbar but Askarov isn’t in danger and starts to land ground and pound. Pantoka looks for a heel hook now but once again, Askarov is fine. Pantoja stands up but Askarov has his back. Pantoja escapes but Askarov is relentless in looking for the takedown. Pantoja escapes and after a scramble ends up on the ground with Askarov’s back. He looks for the rear naked choke but Askarov is doing well to defend and lasts the round.
Round 2: Pantoja pressures forward. Askarov responds with a takedown attempt. Pantoja defends and they clinch up before returning to striking. Askarov lands a body kick. He lands a leg kick soon after. Pantoja lands a body kick which connects but Askarov catches it and looks to take him down but to no avail. Pantoja lands a leg kick but receives a counter to the head. Pantoja lands a body shot. Askarov takes him down. Pantoja scrambles and gets to his feet. Askarov looks for another takedown. They go to the ground but are back up on the feet again. Askarov looks for another takedown but Pantoja reverses and has his back with one hook in. Askarov ends up on top and the round ends.
Round 3: The pair start to swing to begin the third with Pantoja landing some effective. Askarov seemingly gets dropped but doesn’t seem to be majorly hurt. The fight returns to the feet. Askarov lands a nice jab. Pantoja tries to take him down but gives up on the attempt. Pantoja lands a big body shot. Askarov lands a number of leg kicks. He follows it up with a teep kick to the knee. Fight has slowed down a bit as both fighters seem to be recovering from the first two rounds. Pantoja lands a body kick but slips. Askarov looks to swarm but gives up soon after. Askarov lands a nice left. They both connect as the fight ends.
Official result: Askar Askarov defeats Alexandre Pantoja via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez 2 hinges on a second COVID-19 test. Figueiredo is scheduled to collide with Benavidez in a rematch for the vacant UFC flyweight championship on July 18. Back in Oct. 2019, Figueiredo scored a finish over Benavid…
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez 2 hinges on a second COVID-19 test. Figueiredo is scheduled to collide with Benavidez in a rematch for the vacant UFC flyweight championship on July 18. Back in Oct. 2019, Figueiredo scored a finish over Benavidez in Virginia. He would be recognized as the 125-pound titleholder right now but he […]
Next up on the UFC Vegas 18 main card is a flyweight clash between Alexandre Pantoja and the debuting Manel Kape. Round 1: Pantoja is aggressive early on as he puts the pressure on Kape. Pantoja lands a couple of body kicks. Kape defends a takedown attempt. He lands a jab but receives a leg […]
UFC flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja is certainly taking the COVID-19 virus seriously now. The Brazilian was set to take on former RIZIN champion Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 17 on December 19. However, he had to pull out after testing positive for COVID-19. And unlike other fighters who suffered only mild symptoms and recovered soon […]
Kicking off the UFC Fight Island 2 main card is a flyweight bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Askar Askarov. Round 1: Pantoja starts with a superman punch. Askarov goes for a takedown but Pantoja reverses with a guillotine. Askarov escapes and is now in Pantoja’s guard. Pantoja attempts a triangle and an armbar but Askarov […]