Alexandre Pantoja: The underrated dominance of the UFC flyweight champion

In the fast-paced and action-packed sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) there are few weight categories as exciting, dynamic, and technical as the flyweight division. The flyweight division is characterized by an amazing balance of velocity, accuracy and variety; the fighters do not have the impact of the higher weight categories, but they do not let their opponents sleep, demonstrating a stunning technique. This is one of the most overlooked divisions where Alexandre Pantoja has been able to build his career and be ranked among the best UFC champions. However, irrespective of the achievements that he has made, Pantoja is still not a very popular fighter in the sport, whereas his abilities and spirit put him in the rank of the best fighters.

In this article we go through the career of Pantoja starting from when he was a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) prodigy and ending with him being the UFC Flyweight Champion. I will discuss his technical superiority, why he was never given the credit he deserved through his reign and why Pantoja should be considered amongst the legends of this sport.

The Humble Beginnings: The Journey of Pantoja to MMA

Alexandre Pantoja was born on 16 April 1990 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he has been brought up with the knowledge of the art of fighting. Like many Brazilian fighters Pantoja began his journey in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that is focused on ground fighting and submissions. BJJ is not only a sport but more of a pride of Brazil and Pantoja’s fast rise to grappling stardom made him an instant hit. As he reached his teenage years he was participating in the high-level competition, and it looked like he was destined to be a combat sportsman.

But Pantoja was not content with being just a grappler. He wanted to become a full-contact martial artist that is why he studied striking arts and wrestling which are the components of the modern MMA. With time he expanded his desire and in 2007 at the age of 17, Pantoja started his professional career in MMA. In the following years, he competed in regional shows all around Brazil and gradually built a reputation of a dangerous man with a well-rounded skill set that includes both striking and grappling.

However, it was not easy for Pantoja to get into the international arena despite his apparent skills. There are hundreds of thousands of fighters from around the world aspiring to become the next big thing in MMA and it’s not easy to rise above the noise. For Pantoja, his big break was in 2016 when he was picked to be among the participants of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 24. The show that was based on the flyweight category had the winner get a shot at the then reigning and defending UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson.

The Ultimate Fighter Experience and UFC Entry

This is considered as one of the milestones of Pantoja’s career since he was able to join The Ultimate Fighter. Making his debut in the TUF house with an eight-fight winning streak, Pantoja was considered one of the frontrunners to clinch the title. His grappling background and versatility were a nightmare for many of the fighters, and he did not take long to show that.

Pantoja did not win the tournament; he was knocked out in the semifinals but his performances on the show earned him a contract with the UFC. It became a significant achievement for the Brazilian as it paved the way for him to join the largest organization in the MMA. His first fight for UFC was in January 2017 where he faced Eric Shelton in the UFC Fight Night 103. The fight was declared in favor of Pantoja by split decision and this proved to the world that he was a worthy contender in the group of the best flyweight fighters.

From there Pantoja ramped up his UFC flyweight division run, defeating respected veterans, and highly touted talents. His wins over Neil Seery, Brandon Moreno and Matt Schnell demonstrated his ability to adapt and his increasing effectiveness in stand-up exchanges. However, even with the list of accomplishments, Pantoja still could not garner the interest of the MMA fans.

The Overlooked Warrior: History of UFC: UFC’s Early Days

The Brazilian earned a series of spectacular victories in the early stages of his UFC career, but Pantoja remained relatively unknown. This lack of recognition was not because Pantoja was not skillful or did not give exciting performances— he was both —but a number of circumstances beyond his control. For instance, at the time the UFC flyweight division was characterized by fighters such as Demetrious Johnson and later on Henry Cejudo who received much of the division’s attention.

Johnson, particularly, dominated the flyweight division for many years. Often considered as the best fighter in the history of MMA, Mighty Mouse reigned the division for six years and his reign made it hard for other fighters to get the kind of attention they needed. As Pantoja was piling up wins, Johnson’s record-setting title run and Henry Cejudo’s emergence dominated most of the conversation.

Also, there was the same idea about the UFC organization which looked like it was unsure about the further development of the flyweight division. It was speculated that the promotion was planning on doing away with the 125-pound weight division which would have left many fighters such as Pantoja out of work. Luckily the division did not disappear but the air of ambiguity added to the neglect of the flyweight classes.

Despite these external conditions, Pantoja kept on perfecting his work. In each fight he grew and while his triumphs may not have been greeted by the scream of the mainstream culture they were significant to the astute observer.

The Rivalry with Brandon ‘The Hitman’ Moreno

One of the major fights that defined Pantoja’s career was in 2018 when he fought the hungry and ambitious Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 129. Moreno, who was to grace one of the divisions biggest stars at the time, was riding high on the crest of a wave. But this was a rude shock for the fans because Pantoja emerged a better fighter, overwhelming Moreno from the onset and going on to win by unanimous decision.

Pantoja’s performance in that fight was one of the best examples of how to dominate the fight in terms of the work rate as well as the position. He employed his grappling to shut down Moreno’s offence, over and over again, taking him down, and denying him the opportunity to create any meaningful attacks. The victory was a testament to Pantoja’s skillset, but it also highlighted a common theme in his career. Despite this he would not get the recognition even if he was defeating players of top level.

Moreno went on to remain active in the division and won the UFC Flyweight Championship in 2021 while Pantoya had to wait for his shot at the gold. Even though Pantoja defeated Moreno, he disappeared from the title picture as the UFC continued to build Moreno’s rivalry with Figueiredo – a two-year feud that defined the division.

Breaking Through: The Title Shot and Rematch with Moreno

A possible title shot for Pantoja in the UFC was expected to happen in 2023 where he was scheduled to fight against Moreno, the newly crowned UFC Flyweight Champion. To Pantoja, this was not only an opportunity to win the title but also an opportunity to send a message to everyone that he has already beaten Moreno in the past and can do it again.

The rematch between Pantoja and Moreno was all that can be expected of such a fight. It showcased everything that makes flyweight MMA so special: Lightning fast exchanges, high level grappling and relentless work rate. Pantoja entered the fight with the strategy of how to counter Moreno’s developments since their first bout and what we witnessed was one of the most exciting UFC flyweight title bouts ever.

The five round war was a true test to both fighters but Pantoja was able to put constant pressure and smother Santos on the ground to win the fight by split decision. With this win, Alexandre Pantoja become the new UFC Flyweight Champion which was a long overdue and well earned moment.

Decoding Pantoja’s Technical Skill Set

With Pantoja as the new flyweight champion, this is the best time to look at why he is a great champion and why he is often overlooked. It cannot be said that he owes this victory to a single weapon or a specific strategy; he has been training for years, being flexible, and knowing all the subtleties of fighting in MMA.

Grappling Supremacy

The main strength of Pantoja is the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which is among the best in the UFC flyweight division. He has the necessary skills to submit his opponents with the ground and pound and switch between stances with great ease. His BJJ is deadly, as seen by his previous submission wins but what makes Pantoja especially dangerous is that he can make his opponents make mistakes. Whether it’s an opening for a rear-naked choke or an opportunity to take the back, Pantoja has a sixth sense for capitalizing on his opponents’ mistakes.

Pressure Fighting and Pace

This is one of the most tiresome things when fighting Pantoja, and this is his speed. He advances continuously, thus not allowing his adversaries any breathing space. This pressure makes the fighters to make decisions under pressure and this leads to many mistakes which Pantoja capitalizes on. Whether he is moving in close to grapple with his opponent or keeping his distance to throw punches, Pantoja’s decision making and thus control of the pace of the fight is one of his biggest advantages.

Striking Versatility

It is important to note that although Pantoja is well known for his grappling skills his striking has improved tremendously over the years. In the initial stages of his career, he used to grapple to clinch fights but he has worked on his stand up striking and it goes very well with his grappling. He employs strong leg kicks to tire out his opponents then follows it up with clean punches to dazzle them. His striking combined with his takedown attempts are a very tough thing to look for and thus his opponents do not know whether he is going for a punch or a double leg takedown.

Cardio and Durability

To beat championship level fighters one has to stand out in conditioning and toughness and Pantoja has shown that. His cardio enables him to keep up the pace in a fight to the last minute of a match and this is vital in five-round fights. Furthermore, Moreno has proved over and over that he is a tough nut to crack and can take a beating while looking for a finish, which he exemplified in his bout with Pantoja.

Adaptability and Fight IQ

One has to say that Pantoja possesses a great fight IQ which is still overlooked by many people. He is a technical fighter who adapts during the fight, and this can be in the form of changing his stance to that of the opponent’s timing or change his tactics when engaging in a takedown battle. His skills in outsmarting his rivals have been a major contributing factor in his success in the division.

Why Pantoja Remains Underrated

Today, Alexandre Pantoja, a Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist who’s been winning on the ground level, is a UFC champion and yet, remains unknown in a world that feeds off characters and knockout artists. There are several reasons for this:

The Flyweight Division: A History of the Division’s Challenges

The UFC flyweight division has always been one of the most neglected and under-marketed divisions in the history of the company. It has frequently been sidelined by the higher categories in which knockouts are more frequent, and the fighters are more massive. However, although flyweight fighters provide great action in the cage, the division in general has not been able to draw the attention of the casual MMA audience.

Pantoja’s Reserved Personality

For a sport in which fighters have to sell themselves through words and attitude, Pantoja is not the most convincing character. He lets his performances speak for him that has earned him respect from the hard core MMA fans though this has not helped him gain mainstream popularity.

Overshadowed by Rivalries

As it has been said before, Pantoja’s career overlapped with the bitter rivalry between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo, which defined the flyweight division for a couple of years. That’s why when Pantoja was making his way, the focus was on someone else.

The Future of Alexandre Pantoja’s Reign

Now that Pantoja holds the UFC Flyweight Championship, the question is: for how long shall he be able to remain on top? When it comes to opponents, Pantoja has fighters such as Askar Askarov, Manel Kape, and even the third bout with Brandon Moreno awaiting him, Pantoja’s reign will be challenged. Nevertheless, due to his versatility, mental strength and experience in championship fights, Pantoja will be ready to retain his belt and keep on dominating the flyweight division.

Conclusion

Alexandre Pantoja will go down in mixed martial arts history as one of the most talented flyweight contenders to earn his UFC title shot. He may not be as popular as some of the other fighters but the fact remains that Pantoja is one of the best flyweight fighters in the world. The win over Brandon Moreno established him in the elite of the division and as he continues to make his title defence, it will not be long before the MMA fraternity wakes up to the fact that Alexandre Pantoja is great.