Alexandre Pantoja News

Alexandre Pantoja UFC Weigh-in
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja understands the KO threat posed by Kai Kara-France

Harry Kettle - June 17, 2025

Alexandre Pantoja understands the threat he’ll be facing when he battles Kai Kara-France ahead of their upcoming title fight. In the co-main event of UFC 317 next weekend, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship against Kai Kara-France. It’s the moment that KKF has been waiting a long time for and now, he’ll finally get the opportunity to battle it out for the belt.

Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja
Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili open to fighting flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja: "People will be interested in this fight"

Cole Shelton - June 9, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili believes that a fight against Alexandre Pantoja would be one that the people would be interested in. Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title on Saturday in the main event of UFC 316 with a submission win over Sean O’Malley. It was a dominating performance, and after the win, his next title defense wasn’t clear. Cory Sandhagen appears to be next in line, but Petr Yan and Umar Nurmagomedov are both potential candidates.

Alexandre Pantoja
Muhammad Mokaev

Ousted UFC star reveals one fighter who can defeat Alexandre Pantoja

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 25, 2025

One former UFC flyweight thinks he knows who has what it takes to dethrone Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja has been the reigning UFC titleholder at 125 pounds since July 2023 when he defeated Brandon Moreno via split decision. He has had three successful title defenses. The Brazilian bruiser will look to thwart the challenge of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 on June 28.

Kyoji Horiguchi
Kyoji Horiguchi

Kyoji Horiguchi open to fighting training partner Alexandre Pantoja: 'Friends can make good money'

Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 16, 2025

Kyoji Horiguchi has no problem fighting Alexandre Pantoja for the right price and prize. Horiguchi and Pantoja are longtime training partners. The two have been able to avoid fighting one another, as Horiguchi had been competing under the Rizin banner. Now that Horiguchi has returned to the UFC, it’s left the door open to fight Pantoja, who happens to be the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion.

Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Kai Kara-France hints at UFC 317 flyweight title fight against Alexandre Pantoja: "12 weeks out"

Josh Evanoff - April 2, 2025

It appears that Kai Kara-France is preparing for a summer meeting with UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. ‘Don’t Blink’ last appeared in the cage at UFC 305 last August in Australia. Kai Kara-France entered the bout riding a two-fight losing streak, previously suffering losses to Amir Albazi and Brandon Moreno. Badly needing a win to remain in title contention, the striker scored a blistering first-round knockout win over Steve Erceg last summer. Post-fight, Kara-France called for a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja.

Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson understands Alexandre Pantoja callout, calls UFC champion best flyweight today

Fernando Quiles Jr. - March 20, 2025

Demetrious Johnson has high praise for Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja is the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion. His most recent title defense took place at the UFC 310 pay-per-view against Kai Asakura. Pantoja secured a second-round technical submission finish to retain the 125-pound gold. After the fight, Pantoja called out Johnson, who retired from pro MMA competition in Sept. 2024.

Kai Asakura
Kai Asakura

Kai Asakura vows to become UFC champion after suffering loss to Alexandre Pantoja: "Make my dream come true"

Josh Evanoff - December 19, 2024

Despite his loss to Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Asakura remains confident that he’ll become UFC flyweight champion. The former RIZIN bantamweight champion is fresh off his UFC debut earlier this month in Las Vegas. Back for the first time since a knockout win over Juan Archuleta in December, Kai Asakura faced Alexandre Pantoja. The Japanese star got a rare title shot in his promotional debut, given the champion’s dominance over the flyweight division.

Alexandre Pantoja and Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson

Alexandre Pantoja makes fresh pitch to Demetrious Johnson for superfight

Harry Kettle - December 13, 2024

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has made a fresh pitch to Demetrious Johnson for a possible superfight. Right now, Alexandre Pantoja is one of the most impressive champions in mixed martial arts. He took the belt in a great fight and ever since then, he’s been putting on some fantastic bouts – and successfully defending the belt along the way. Now, though, many are wondering what could be next for him.

Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja believes Kai Kara-France is most likely title challenger following UFC 310 win: "Makes the most sense"

Josh Evanoff - December 11, 2024

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja believes a fight with Kai Kara-France is likely next. ‘The Cannibal’ returned to the octagon in the main event of UFC 310 over the weekend. Back for the first time since defeating Steve Erceg in May, Alexandre Pantoja faced former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura. The 32-year-old was granted a near-unprecedented title shot in his promotional debut, given the Brazilian’s dominance over the division.

Alexandre Pantoja, UFC 310
Ian Garry

What's next for the stars of UFC 310?

Cole Shelton - December 9, 2024

The UFC was in Las Vegas, Nevada for their year-end pay-per-view for a solid UFC 310 card. In the main event, Alexandre Pantoja was defending his flyweight title against UFC newcomer Kai Asakura. The co-main event saw a pivotal welterweight bout between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry.

Demetrious Johnson ONE
Demetrious Johnson

Demetrious Johnson opens up on decision to reject UFC title shot offer from Alexandre Pantoja: "My legacy doesn't need him"

Josh Evanoff - December 9, 2024

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has no interest in facing Alexandre Pantoja. ‘The Cannibal’ returned to the octagon in the main event of UFC 310 over the weekend. Back for the first time since defeating Steve Erceg in May, Alexandre Pantoja met former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura. The 31-year-old challenger entered the bout riding a wave of momentum, last knocking out Juan Archuleta last December.

Alexandre Pantoja Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson

Alexandre Pantoja reacts after Demetrious Johnson shoots down his UFC 310 callout: “It’s not about money”

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 8, 2024

Alexandre Pantoja is aware of Demetrious Johnson’s response to his callout. Pantoja surprised MMA fans when he called for a showdown with “Mighty Mouse” at the conclusion of UFC 310. The UFC flyweight champion had a successful title defense against Kai Asakura, earning a second-round submission finish. After the fight, Pantoja expressed his desire to share the Octagon with Johnson, who retired from pro MMA competition earlier this year.

Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Asakura
Exclusive MMA Interviews

UFC 310 | Pro fighters make their picks for Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Asakura title fight

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2024

In the main event of UFC 310 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada the flyweight title is up for grabs as Alexandre Pantoja takes on UFC newcomer Kai Asakura. Heading into the fight, Pantoja is a -280 favorite while the challenger is a +210 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the scrap, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their prediction for the flyweight title fight. In the end, most believe Pantoja will get his hand raised as they believe that UFC experience is a true factor as Asakura making his debut in a title fight could hinder him with nerves.

Kai Asakura
Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen claims UFC title shot for Kai Asakura is “right”

Zain Bando - December 3, 2024

Chael Sonnen, a former UFC fighter-turned-analyst, quickly gave his thoughts on the UFC 310 pay-per-view main event between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura, which headlines this Saturday. Sonnen never won a UFC world title. Between 2010 and 2013, he came up short on three occasions against former middleweight champion Anderson Silva (twice) and current heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Kai Asakura, UFC 310, Mikuru Asakura, Alexandre Pantoja, MMA
Kai Asakura

UFC 310 title challenger had first fight against his own brother: “He was really trying to kill me”

BJ Penn Staff - December 1, 2024

Technically speaking, UFC 310 headliner Kai Asakura had his first fight in 2012, when he submitted Tomoya Suzuki. If you ask the man himself, however, he’ll tell you his first fight came earlier than that, when he took on his own brother, Mikuru. Kai Asakura’s first ever fight was a street fight against his own brother

Alexandre Pantoja
UFC

Alexandre Pantoja shuts down bantamweight move ahead of UFC 310 title defense against Kai Asakura

Fernando Quiles Jr. - December 1, 2024

Alexandre Pantoja isn’t thinking about a move to the bantamweight division at the moment. Pantoja is the reigning UFC flyweight titleholder, but he had teased dabbling into the 135-pound division for a showdown with Sean O’Malley. At the time, O’Malley held the bantamweight championship.

Alexandre Pantoja
UFC

Alexandre Pantoja makes the case for his fight being the main event of UFC 310

Harry Kettle - November 2, 2024

Alexandre Pantoja has made the case for his fight serving as the main event of UFC 310 next month. At UFC 310, Alexandre Pantoja will defend his UFC flyweight championship against UFC newcomer Kai Asakura. As you can imagine, this move took many by surprise – but it also led to a great deal of excitement.

Kai Kara-France and Kai Asakura
Kai Kara-France

Kai Kara-France vents frustration for Kai Askaura getting flyweight title shot: "He hasn’t even fought yet"

Cole Shelton - October 17, 2024

Kai Kara-France believes he should have been the one to get the next flyweight title shot. UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt in the co-main event of UFC 310 against newcomer Kai Asakura. Asakura is the former RIZIN champion who has notable wins over Manel Kape, Kyoji Horiguchi, and Juan Archuleta, but it still came as a surprise that he received an immediate title shot in his first UFC fight.