Exclusive Q&A: Alexandre Pantoja is ready for anyone

Alexandre Pantoja defended his UFC flyweight belt last December against Kai Asakura. He won by submission in the second round.

DAZN News spoke to the undisputed champion.

DAZN News: When will we see you back in the octagon?

Alexandre Pantoja: Hopefully soon. I asked to fight in Miami (UFC 314), but right now, they just haven't put me on the card. I think they saved my fight for another event. I'm healthy. If you give me eight weeks, I can fight in June or July.  

DN: Who do you want to fight now?

AP: I liked Manuel Kape's fight today. I think it was very interesting. Everybody has a fight. People talk about Kai Kara-France, maybe he's a good name to fight right now. Merab [Dvalishvili] is a good fight too. Why not? Everybody talks about that as well. But I don't have an opponent or any contract to confirm that. I'm just training, staying focused, staying healthy, and living like a champ. If you pay me, I can fight whoever they put in front of me. Just not my wife or my mom, anyone else, I can fight.  

DN: There is someone in your division, Tagir Ulanbekov. He trains with Khabib and Javier Mendez. He called you out after his last win. Could you see yourself fighting him one day?

AP: Tagir is very big for this division. I don't think he can stay in it for long; he would need to make a huge catchweight. But he's a good fighter, a very talented guy. I think he needs a couple more fights. But after what happens in my division, I'll fight anybody. I think everyone has a chance, especially in my division. I'm super excited about that. Nobody knows who's next.  

DN: You're so dominant in your division that they had to bring someone from another organization to try and beat you, and you still submitted him. Merab is also the undisputed champion in his division. Are you interested in fighting him for his belt?

AP: I think about business. A lot of people talk about double champions and things like that, but I don’t think the UFC really likes it. Imagine if someone holds two belts, you either have to defend both all the time, or you end up holding up divisions, which isn’t good for anyone. Maybe that's one reason why someone would vacate a belt to move up. But of course, there's always a chance to do something special. Not everyone has held two belts at the same time. When you think about legacy, putting your name in another division, creating history, everyone wants that.  

What I really want right now is to defend my belt and climb higher in the rankings. Maybe people don’t think about it, but everyone wants to be the best across all divisions. In my next fight, I want to prove something to myself. I believe I can still improve and grow. I think I'm close to achieving that.  

DN: Would you ever vacate your belt for his?  

AP: No, I'm not going to vacate my belt. I love protecting my division. I love fighting flyweights because, years ago, people were saying this division should be shut down. Imagine if someone told you your job didn’t matter, that nobody cared about it. It’s not like that. I need to feed my family, and not just me, every fighter in this division needs to provide for their families. Some people say, “Yeah, you don’t need this division.” But I think it’s important to show that this division matters. And I'm one of the guys fighting for it. I want to defend my belt and make exciting fights. That’s what I want to do, and I will continue doing it.  

DN: You don't trash talk, you prefer to stay true to yourself, and you're a very religious man. Once you're inside the octagon, you're ready to die for victory. How do you view your career and legacy today?

AP: I think I'm doing very well. I've been fighting for so long, 18 years as a professional. I made my debut in 2007, so it's been a long journey to get this belt. I went through everything. Right now, I think this is the best time for me. I have money, I can invest in my career, hire good professionals to work with me, take care of my family, and spend more time with them. That makes me a better fighter. I still have so much more to achieve.  

DN: You’ve been undefeated for four years, seven fights, seven wins. How do you explain such success?

AP: A lot has changed in my mind. Before, I was just fighting to prove something to my opponents. You put me in the octagon, and I wanted to show everyone that I would destroy my opponent. But over time, I realized that when I lost, it was because of technical mistakes.  

I figured out that if I want to keep this belt, I need to fight smart. I know how to fight, but I need to focus on winning. I think I’ve become more technical. I understand the game better. Training at American Top Team with Marcos "Parrumpinha" has made a huge difference in my life. Now, when I fight, of course, I want to put on a show, but my priority is winning. That’s what I do, I know how to play this game, and I know how to win.  

DN: How much longer can we expect to see you in the UFC?

AP: I’ve talked about this with my friends. Nowadays, athletes stay in peak condition for much longer, not just in MMA, but in soccer and other sports. Before, soccer players would retire at 30. Now, some play until 38 or 39.  

That's one of the best things happening for me. I’m still motivated, I’ve learned how to stay healthy, and that helps me extend my career. I think I can stay competitive for a few more years. But maybe by 40, I’ll stop.  

DN: "Poatan" Alex Pereira is one of your friends. What was the issue for you in his last fight?

AP: Poatan is an amazing guy. What he has done in the UFC is magical. He pushes all the champions to work harder because he accepts every fight and is always ready.  

He went five tough rounds with [Magomed] Ankalaev. Ankalaev had been preparing for Poatan for years, he trained specifically for that fight. Maybe Poatan just needed more time to study Ankalaev’s game and prepare better. If they have a rematch, I think we’ll see the Poatan we all love to watch.

DN: There is a Brazilian legend who is about to make his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez. I'm talking about Patricio Pitbull. What's your pick for this fight?

AP: I've been following Patricio for so many years, even before he joined the UFC. I met him in California in 2014, and I learned a lot from him. He’s so aggressive, so complete, it's amazing for the UFC to have someone like him in the game. I'm super excited because I'm going to Miami to watch the fight, and I think it's an amazing matchup.  

I like Yair Rodriguez too. He’s a great fighter with very good skills. But Patricio has been a champion for so many years. He has fought a lot of top guys, and he's had enough time to recover and prepare himself properly. Every time Pitbull fights, he brings the fight. I think he's the favorite in this one.  

DN: Jose Aldo is your friend too, and he will fight in Montreal. Do you have a pick?

AP: Of course! It’s the same thing with Jose Aldo. Every time he fights, it’s a special event. People love watching him. I was talking with Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who is a big friend of mine. I told her, "Joanna, please fight again!" Maybe it's not about chasing the belt anymore, but it’s a great opportunity for the fans to watch legends compete one more time.  

The same goes for Aldo. He’s still competitive, still hungry. No matter the result, it's a great opportunity for the fans, including myself, to watch him fight again.  

DN: How many fights do you want this year? How many title defenses?

AP: If I don’t fight in April, then maybe June. In that case, I could fight two more times this year. People say, "Oh, December was last year," but for us fighters, it’s a big deal. Preparing for five rounds is a lot of work in the gym.  

Right now, I'm just focused on my next fight. That’s all I want to think about. If I can fight in June or July, maybe during Fight Week, that would be amazing. I love fighting in Vegas too.  

DN: Since your last fight, Brandon Royval is on a two-fight winning streak. He hasn’t fought since October. Could we see a rematch between you two?

AP: Royval is an amazing fighter. I love watching him. This division is so stacked, we have great grapplers, great strikers, and insane cardio. Everyone is dangerous.  

Royval is definitely one of the top names, but he pulled out of the fight with Manuel Kape. A lot is happening in the division right now. Honestly, this is the best time ever for flyweights. We’re headlining events, putting on exciting fights, and getting more recognition.  

A few years ago, people were saying, "Shut down this division." Now, it’s completely different. Look at the top 10, so many great names. [Brandon] Moreno, Kape, Kai Kara-France, Tagir Ulanbekov. There are so many new fighters entering the UFC, especially young Japanese prospects. I really appreciate that. I feel lucky to be the champion at a time like this.  

DN: Next week, we have a Fight Night where Moreno fights Steve Erceg in your division. What’s your pick? 

AP: Moreno vs. Erceg? That’s an amazing fight. Erceg is so good, but when he fought Kai Kara-France, he don’t think right. In this division, everybody’s so dangerous, and now, he know that. Now, he’s going to Mexico City to fight Moreno.  

Moreno is unstoppable. I don’t have a pick, but I want to watch this fight. 100 % everyone watching will have a good time.  

DN: If we get an amazing fight with a finish or a submission, could the winner get a title shot?

AP: When people post on the internet that champions don’t agree with certain fighters getting title shots, I don’t think that’s how it works. We don’t choose our opponents.  

If the UFC tells me, "Hey, you’re fighting this guy," what am I supposed to say? No? Who am I to decide? That’s not my job. If Dana White comes to me and says, "You’re fighting Tim Elliott," I’ll say yes. Give me the name, give me the money, and I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me.  

Like I said before, in this division, everyone has a chance. I’ve fought everyone in my path. That’s been my dream since I was a kid watching [Jean Claude] Van Damme movies, to fight the best in the world.  

In my career, I’ve fought champions from everywhere, Mexicans, Americans, Australians, Japanese fighters. That’s a dream for me. Being the best in the world while facing the best from all over the world.  

The flyweight division is truly international. It’s not just five Americans and three Russians. We have fighters from Africa, Japan, Europe, Brazil, the U.S., everywhere. Whoever they give me, I’m excited to fight.