Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is fighting for recognition not only for himself but for the entire 125-pound weight class.
At UFC 317 on Saturday, the champion secured his fourth straight title defense with a dominant submission victory over Kai Kara-France. Pantoja showcased his renowned resilience and superior grappling, enduring Kara-France`s best efforts before asserting control. He finished the fight in the third round with a rear-naked choke.
Prior to the fight, Pantoja was ranked third in the Pound-for-Pound list, tied with bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili. Now, he feels only one fighter should be ranked ahead of him.
Speaking at the UFC 317 post-fight press conference, Pantoja argued his case for a higher ranking. “It doesn’t make sense if I’m not No. 2,” Pantoja stated. “I should only be behind Islam Makhachev. It doesn’t make sense otherwise. Five fights for a title. Eight victories in this streak. Second submission, four title defenses – the numbers don’t lie. The only guy I accept being ahead of me is Islam Makhachev because he has the numbers.” Pantoja continued, expressing frustration with the perception of the flyweight division. “I try to understand the pound-for-pound rankings… I think it’s time to respect flyweight more. Joshua Van, Brandon Royval, they had maybe the Fight of the Night tonight. I had a very good fight with Kai Kara-France. I think it’s time for people to change their mind. Flyweight is a very entertaining division, and I think things need to change.”
Just before Pantoja`s fight, fellow top flyweights Joshua Van and Brandon Royval delivered a thrilling three-round battle. Van ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory, but both fighters were awarded Fight of the Night bonuses for a contest already being hailed as a potential candidate for the most exciting fight of 2025.
Pantoja firmly believes the 125-pound weight class is currently at its most exciting, regardless of opinions from casual observers.
“I think little by little we are changing the perception [of the flyweight division],” Pantoja commented. “Fights like that – Joshua Van and Royval, my fight with Kai Kara-France, fights like [Brandon] Moreno and [Amir] Albazi. We have so many good fighters.” He noted the increased visibility: “I saw over the last year, 2024, we had many main events featuring flyweights, and I think things are starting to shift. That’s great.” Addressing negative comments online, Pantoja said, “I see on YouTube and Instagram people saying bad things about my division. I don’t need to say anything about the haters. Hardcore fans are stepping up and saying, ‘Hey, shut your mouth, casual.’ People are realizing how good this division is right now, and we are the only ones who can change that.” He added that respect within the division helps: “I think because the whole division respects each other, there isn’t bad blood between us.”
With eight consecutive victories, Pantoja`s impressive UFC resume includes wins over prominent fighters such as Kara-France, Royval, Moreno, Alex Perez, and Manel Kape, among many others. While holding immense respect for Demetrious Johnson, often regarded as the greatest flyweight ever, Pantoja contends that the division now boasts unprecedented depth and global representation.
Discussing the Van vs. Royval bout, Pantoja said, “Joshua Van is so good, who can dispute that? He beat Royval. I think Royval made some mistakes against him, trying to rush the fight too much, not utilizing grappling enough.” Regarding a potential matchup with Demetrious Johnson, Pantoja reiterated, “I said before I truly want to fight him. He’s said he’s retired, he’s not coming back. Perhaps it wouldn’t be beneficial for him to return, because the flyweight division is significantly different now. This current high level is distinct.” He emphasized the division`s global reach: “I respect everyone who paved the way for us, but now, especially in my division, you see the entire world represented. The Top 10 includes fighters from around the globe: Japan, Africa, Brazil, Russia, Australia, New Zealand. It’s amazing to be part of that.”
Marcus Blakely