Alexandre Pantoja Demands More Respect for the Flyweight Division

Alexandre Pantoja aims for personal glory and increased recognition for the entire flyweight division in mixed martial arts.

The reigning 125-pound champion successfully defended his title for the fourth consecutive time at UFC 317. He secured a dominant submission victory over Kai Kara-France, showcasing his legendary toughness and elite grappling skills. Pantoja absorbed Kara-France`s best shots while imposing his will on the fight, ultimately finishing the contest with a rear-naked choke in the third round.

Prior to Saturday`s event, Pantoja was ranked No. 3 in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound rankings, tied with bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili. Following his impressive performance, Pantoja believes there is now only one fighter who should be ranked above him.

“It doesn`t make sense if I`m not No. 2,” Pantoja asserted during the UFC 317 post-fight press conference. “I should be directly behind Islam Makhachev. Any other ranking doesn`t add up. Five title fights, an eight-fight winning streak, two submissions, four title defenses – the numbers clearly support this. The only individual I accept being ranked ahead of me is Islam Makhachev, solely based on his statistical accomplishments.”

He continued, “I attempt to understand the reasoning behind the pound-for-pound rankings. Perhaps it`s based on total victories, or maybe victories against ranked opponents… I`m genuinely unsure. Do people honestly think I need to defeat someone like Jack Della Maddalena to ascend in the rankings? That`s illogical. I firmly believe it`s high time the flyweight division receives significantly more respect. Consider Joshua Van and Brandon Royval; they delivered what was possibly the Fight of the Night. My own bout with Kai Kara-France was also of a very high standard. I think public perception needs to shift. Flyweight is an incredibly entertaining division, and viewpoints should certainly evolve.”

Immediately before Pantoja`s successful title defense, top contenders Joshua Van and Brandon Royval engaged in a thrilling three-round battle. While Van ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory, both fighters earned Fight of the Night bonuses for putting on a performance that is considered a strong contender for the most exciting bout of 2025.

Pantoja firmly believes that the 125-pound weight class is currently more exciting and talented than ever before, a point he emphasizes regardless of criticisms from casual observers.

“I think we are gradually altering the perception of the flyweight division,” Pantoja commented. “Fights like Van versus Royval, my own fight against Kai Kara-France, and notable bouts such as [Brandon] Moreno versus [Amir] Albazi are contributing to this change. We boast an abundance of highly skilled fighters. Reflecting on recent events, we`ve seen numerous flyweight bouts headlining cards, and I sense that attitudes are beginning to shift. That`s truly encouraging.”

“I encounter negative comments about my division on platforms like YouTube and Instagram,” he noted. “However, I don`t feel the need to directly address the `haters`. The dedicated hardcore fans often step in to defend the division and tell the casuals to `be quiet.` People are increasingly recognizing the high level of talent within this division, and it`s our collective effort as fighters that will continue to change that narrative. I think the mutual respect among fighters in this division also helps; there isn`t significant animosity.”

Pantoja is currently riding an impressive eight-fight winning streak in the UFC, with notable victories over opponents including Kai Kara-France, Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Alex Perez, Manel Kape, and several other top contenders. While he holds immense respect for Demetrious Johnson, widely regarded as the greatest flyweight of all time, Pantoja feels the current division possesses unprecedented depth and global diversity.

“Joshua Van is exceptionally good; who could possibly disagree with that?” Pantoja stated. “He defeated Royval. I think Royval might have made some strategic errors in that fight, perhaps rushing things too much and not incorporating his grappling effectively. Regarding a potential match with Demetrious Johnson, I`ve stated previously that I genuinely wanted to compete against him. However, he has announced his retirement and says he`s not planning a comeback. Perhaps it`s indeed better for him not to return, as the competitive standard in the flyweight division today is drastically different. The current high level is on another plane entirely.”

He concluded, “I deeply respect all the fighters who paved the way and opened doors for us, but today, particularly in my division, you see athletes representing the entire world. The Top 10 includes fighters from across the globe: Japan, Africa, Brazil, Russia, Australia, New Zealand. It`s genuinely amazing to be a part of this global representation.”