Fighters » Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in the flyweight’s division history. The Brazilian holds multiple UFC flyweight records and is known for his exciting, finishing style.
Notable Fights
As champion, Pantoja has been on a remarkable run of title defenses against top contenders.
| Date | Opponent | Event | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | Brandon Royval 2 | UFC 296 | Unanimous Decision | First title defense. |
| May 2024 | Steve Erceg | UFC 301 | Unanimous Decision | Second title defense in his home country of Brazil. |
| Dec 2024 | Kai Asakura | UFC 310 | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Third title defense; earned a Performance of the Night bonus. |
| Jun 2025 | Kai Kara-France | UFC 317 | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Fourth title defense; solidified his UFC flyweight records. |
Career Trajectory
Pantoja’s journey to the top was built on several key victories:
- Winning the Championship: He captured the title by defeating Brandon Moreno via split decision at UFC 290 in July 2023.
- Rise to a Title Shot: Before his championship fight, key wins over Brandon Royval (submission, 2021) and Alex Perez (submission, 2022) established him as the number one contender.
- Proving Ground: His victory on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter in 2016, where he submitted Brandon Moreno, was an early sign of his potential.
