Alexandre Pantoja is a man who knows his roots. He’s walked a long, winding road to where he is now.
He’s been fighting as a pro since 2007, you know? He’s been through a lot of organizations, including ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ He’s grown and matured on that journey. And God, he’s put some rocks in his path. But Pantoja, he’s used those rocks to build his castle.
He’s had some great people by his side, always motivating him. When he was down, they picked him up. Now, he tries to be that person for others.
At 33, Pantoja is king of the 125-pound mountain. He’s the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight titleholder. He’s about to defend his title for the first time, in a rematch with Brandon Royval at the UFC 296 co-main event. This Saturday, they’ll meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pantoja submitted Royval with a second-round rear-naked choke in 2021, before he became champion.
He’s happy that Brandon got his title challenge. He’s faced him before. Brandon fights aggressively, likes to put on a show. He’s good for their flyweight division. But he’s also very skilled. Pantoja knows he has to train hard and stay alert.
Royval has had three straight victories since his first encounter with “The Cannibal”. He last appeared at UFC on ESPN 44, where he took down Matheus Nicolau with a knee strike and follow-up elbows in just over two minutes. Royval boasts 13 finishes among his 15 career victories. Pantoja respects him, no doubt about it.
Pantoja is happy to face such a good fighter. He’s glad to have an opponent in his prime. He’s coming off two beautiful bonus-worthy wins. Pantoja himself is on a three-bonus streak. Everything is set for them to have the best fight at UFC 296.
Pantoja trains at the American Top Team camp in Coconut Creek, Florida. He’s been there for nearly six years. The elite coaches and world-class stablemates have made a difference.
He’s evolved significantly there. Many of the trainers have been there for more than 10 or 15 years. He has great training partners who always help him improve. Every training day, they give it their all.
Pantoja is on a four-fight winning streak. He hasn’t competed since he won the flyweight crown with a split decision over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8. He stays motivated by looking to those closest to him.
His wife has been by his side for nearly 11 years. She’s been a big help in his career. She’s the person he most wants to impress. We all want to impress our loved ones, right? He wanted to impress her so much that he became the world champion.
He believes the most precious thing in the world is what you have at home. There’s no need to look for things outside the home.
Family is everything to Pantoja. Since he was a child, he always wished to be rich. He sees that God gave him greater riches through his wife and their children. Regardless of what’s in his bank account, he’s a very rich man because of them. They love each other deeply. They’re his reason for living.