Alexandre Pantoja Takes Aim at Demetrious Johnson Aftter Close Call at UFC 301 Against Steve Erceg
Follow Us
Demetrious Johnson, the reigning and undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion and all-around MMA legend remains a dream fight for just about anyone competing in this division, regardless of the organization.
UFC Flyweight World Champion Alexandre ‘The Cannibal’ Pantoja recently went on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani and said he would love to fight ‘Mighty Mouse’ and test his skills against the ONE Championship megastar. After successfully defending his title at UFC 301, the Brazilian has set his eyes on ONE Championship.
Alexandre Pantoja wants to fight Demetrious Johnson
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Last weekend, Pantoja won his sixth straight in the Octagon and his second straight title defense at the expense of Steve Erceg at UFC 301 to the delight of his hometown fans in Brazil.
Following Pantoja’s latest win, Helwani clarified a statement that was not translated during a press conference where ‘The Cannibal’ appeared to call for a fight with Johnson.
Trending
Dana White & UFC Miss Out on $1.38 Billion Worth Achievement as Conor McGregor Awfully Falls Short of 3-Year-Old Feat
May 18, 2024 01:21 PM EDT
“All of Them Are Lazy” – Khabib Nurmagomedov Responds After Joe Rogan and Royce Gracie Praise the Dagestani Camp
May 18, 2024 09:34 AM EDT
“It’s a Wild One” – Joe Rogan Drops the Most “Interesting” JRE Episode Yet; Fans React to Terrance Howard’s Appearance
May 18, 2024 10:54 PM EDT
“What R U Doing” – Conor McGregor’s Training Footage With Dee Devlin Causes a Stir Among Fans Ahead of Michael Chandler Fight at UFC 303
May 19, 2024 06:42 AM EDT
“My Father Was Crazy to Put Me in There” – Still Tormented After Three Decades, Royce Gracie Makes a Confession to Joe Rogan About UFC 1
May 18, 2024 06:37 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
“He’s the GOAT, you know? How can I not say that? I think right now, after two title defenses, I can speak a little bit about that,” Pantoja said.
“I have huge respect for Demetrious Johnson. I can’t compare myself to him. I think right now, we can say something, because I have more coins to put on the table. I think that’s a dream for me.”
Alexandre Pantoja wants a "dream" fight against Demetrious Johnson 👀
“He’s the GOAT, you know? How can I not say that? I think right now, after two title defenses, I can speak a little bit about that.
▶️ https://t.co/7a4HPgsuf6 #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/ueCLtNnjsp
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 6, 2024
Johnson had hinted at retirement prior to his third encounter with Adriano Moraes for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship at ONE Fight Night 10 in the promotion’s debut show on U.S. soil last year.
Since then, fighters have put their name in the hat for a potential bout in the MMA legend’s few remaining fights in the all-encompassing sport.
Of course, Johnson has stayed active in other endeavors.
He recently won medals in IBJJF tournaments as a brown belt and was recently awarded with his black belt in jiu-jitsu. He has also hinted at potentially throwing down in boxing with “the right opponent.”
‘Mighty Mouse’ judges The Cannibal’s skills
Outside competitions, he is also active in his Mightycast podcast, where he regularly offers fight breakdowns.
He made a review of Pantoja’s latest performance, and he was clearly not impressed by the UFC Flyweight World Champion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I didn’t feel like Alex Pantoja was a better fighter… if you keep him away from his grappling… you can take advantage of him,” he said.
“When I look at the past champions… [Figueiredo] absolutely amazing champion… when I look at Henry Cejudo , he would move and move so good… and when I look at myself, I was moving, finishing people.”
“And then when I look at Pantoja, it’s almost like he’s getting through the fight.. it’s not like he’s getting stronger as the fight goes on.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
At this stage of Johnson’s career, he may be very picky in who he wants to face, as any fight could be the final one of his storied career.
While Pantoja may not fit the bill for him based on his recent criticisms, a ‘Champion Versus Champion’ match between the UFC and ONE Championship would certainly pique his interest, as will the rest of the world.
Edited by:
Joyita Das