“It is murky – it is murky right now,” said Dana White back in 2018 when asked about the flyweight division’s future. At the time, Henry Cejudo and TJ Dillashaw were set to clash at UFC 233, which ultimately got canceled after the promotion failed to secure a proper headliner. Dark clouds loomed over the 125-pound division’s survival. Yet it thrived, and today Alexandre Pantoja holds the belt. Still, accusations of White neglecting flyweight promotion remain strong.

The 125-pound division may be in its most exciting phase right now. With Joshua Van, Brandon Royval, and Brandon Moreno in the mix, the division was able to garner some attention. But the fans still feel it doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Flyweights rarely get the spotlight on major PPVs. For instance, Pantoja headlined UFC 310 only after the Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov fight was canceled. With this pattern in mind, Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood, decided to call out the UFC, citing Demetrious Johnson’s treatment as an example.

Merab Dvalishvili’s coach calls out Dana White over neglecting the Flyweight division 

In an interview with Middle Easy, the Syndicate MMA head coach said, “There’s a couple of new names, and a couple of young guys coming in. But it doesn’t feel like they’re investing into 125 or building it. They never have. Arguably, you let Demetrious Johnson go – who’s arguably one of the best fighters in the world, at that time, who was dominating, you let him go. I don’t know what for. But it just feels like that division just feels like grown properly or invested in.”

Demetrious Johnson’s exit from the UFC remains one of the most controversial chapters in flyweight history. For those unaware, ‘Mighty Mouse’ openly expressed frustration with Dana White’s lack of promotion for the division, even issuing a lengthy statement to MMA Fighting, accusing the company of “bullying.” His departure fueled doubts about the weight class’s survival. However, compared to those turbulent times, the current state of the division is far healthier.

Contenders like Joshua Van, who delivered an impressive performance against Brandon Royval at UFC 317, have made the flyweight division more compelling. Still, the UFC hasn’t showcased it on the same level as lightweight or other headline divisions. Alexandre Pantoja’s dominant reign, fueled by his aggressive style, has kept fans engaged.

Yet the division’s momentum could climb even higher with the right high-profile matchup or perhaps one defining superfight. And John Wood seems to be really interested in the fight. So, let’s dive into that as well. 

John Wood is interested in Merab vs Pantoja  

When it comes to dream superfights in the UFC, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Alexandre Pantoja has to be at the top of the list. Both are dominant champions in their divisions, and they’ve already earned superstar status. Now, it feels like the time has come for UFC fans to finally find out who’s the best. Is ‘The Cannibal’s’ Jiu-Jitsu more dominant, or does ‘The Machine’s’ relentless Combat Sambo-heavy grappling reign supreme? Just like the fans, Merab’s coach isn’t shying away from finding that answer either.

In at the same interview with Middle Easy, Wood said, “I don’t know what’s left there. Pantoja is already a dominant champion. If he clears out a couple more names, then it makes sense to have that superfight. And if he moves up, that’s obviously the fight the UFC would book. Does it interest us? Sure. If he does it at 135, no problem.” But that’s not all, Wood also hinted that the fight could realistically happen in a year or so.

There’s a twist, though. While Merab Dvalishvili is open to the fight, the flyweight champ isn’t as interested because he has a lot of respect for the Georgian. Whether Dana White ends up making this fight anyway will be fascinating to watch.

So, what do you think about the current state of the flyweight division? Would a Merab vs. Pantoja showdown help elevate its status? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.