Alexandre Pantoja News

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.

Muhammad Mokaev, Manel Kape
Manel Kape

Manel Kape claims Muhammad Mokaev left ATT after being constantly submitted by UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja

Susan Cox - July 25, 2024

Manel Kape is claiming Muhammad Mokaev left ATT after being constantly submitted by UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja. UFC 304 takes place this coming weekend, on Saturday July 27th at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.

Steve Erceg, Alexandre Pantoja
Steve Erceg

Steve Erceg rips Alexandre Pantoja after claiming he “hit like a girl” in UFC 301 title fight

Curtis Calhoun - June 17, 2024

Former UFC flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg’s immense respect for Alexandre Pantoja has faltered since their May title clash. Erceg fell to Pantoja by unanimous decision at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. The loss snapped an 11-fight winning streak, including a 3-0 unbeaten run inside the UFC entering his first promotional five-rounder.

Alexandre Pantoja and Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson

Alexandre Pantoja reiterates desire for superfight against Demetrious Johnson

Harry Kettle - May 8, 2024

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has made it clear that he’s interested in a future showdown with Demetrious Johnson. At UFC 301, Alexandre Pantoja just about managed to successfully defend his UFC flyweight championship. He saw off the challenge of Steve Erceg in what proved to be a really competitive encounter.

Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen explains why he puts Alexandre Pantoja in the same category as GSP or Khabib Nurmagomedov

Susan Cox - May 7, 2024

Chael Sonnen is explaining why he puts Alexandre Pantoja in the same category as GSP or Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was just this past weekend, at UFC 301, that the main event featured Alexandre Pantoja (28-5 MMA) vs Steve Erceg (12-2 MMA) in a flyweight title bout. It was to be Pantoja retaining his title with a unanimous decision victory over ‘Astro Boy’.