Alexandre Pantoja’s gearing up for something big. He’s eyeing a page from Jose Aldo’s celebration playbook. Imagine this: if he successfully defends his title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301, it’s gonna be wild.
The showdown’s set. Pantoja vs. Erceg, for the flyweight belt, smack dab in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Picture it: a knockout win, then a dash into the adoring crowd. Aldo’s iconic victory lap at UFC 142? Pantoja’s dreaming of his own version.
For over seven years, Pantoja’s battled in the UFC without once fighting in Brazil. Now, the stars have aligned. “The Cannibal” is coming home. And he’s not just coming; he’s arriving like royalty, belt and all. “Imagine that,” he muses, barely containing his excitement.
Aldo’s making a comeback too, on the very same night. He’s set to square off against Jonathan Martinez. It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable event.
Pantoja’s expecting the crowd to get loud, chanting “Uh Vai Morrer” at Erceg. But he’s quick to clarify: Brazilian fans are passionate, not dangerous. He insists there’s no real threat to his Australian rival.
Remember the uproar at UFC 283? When fans showered Brandon Moreno with cans and bottles? Pantoja shrugs it off. That was an exception, he says. Plus, Moreno’s got a ton of Brazilian fans. They love him.
“Uh Vai Morrer, Uh Vai Morrer! Yeah, people can say that. I like it, I like it. Nobody [is] gonna hurt him,” Pantoja reassures. He’s aware of the criticism following the Moreno-Figueiredo bout but sees it as a one-off. To him, Brazilian fans are just intensely emotional, not violent. “We hug everyone,” he says, painting a picture of a community that embraces all.