Before Alexandre Pantoja became the most dominant flyweight of his era, the Brazilian champion had someone quietly shaping every chapter of his rise, not a coach, not a mentor, but his partner, Gabryella. While fans see the finishes over names like Kai Asakura, Kai Kara-France, Alex Perez, the 8-fight win streak, and the belts, the real story runs behind the scenes, where family sacrifices and long stretches of uncertainty defined his early career far more than highlight-reel victories ever did.

As Pantoja prepares for his next title defense against Joshua Van at UFC 323, fans are wondering about the woman who’s been next to his side long before the belts, bonuses, or global acclaim. So, who exactly is the champ’s partner, and how did their story begin?

Who is Gabryella Pantoja? Marriage and life with Alexandre Pantoja

Various sources claim that Gabryella Gouvêa Pantoja is a stay-at-home mother who prefers to live a rather private life, away from the limelight that comes with being a UFC champion’s partner. The couple has been going strong for a long time since they met each other way back in 2008. Alexandre Pantoja’s wife was born and brought up in Brazil, practicing Christianity as her religion.

Details about her ethnicity, profession, or personal background remain private because she chooses not to live in the spotlight. What is known, however, is that she has been the emotional and practical anchor holding Pantoja steady through years of hardship.

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Even though the couple has kept their marriage timeline private, one thing is clear: they made the decision to build a life together early, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

How Alexandre Pantoja and Gabryella met in Rio de Janeiro

We may have the date when the couple first met, but there’s no source to confirm when they decided to tie the knot. But based on available information and deduction, Alexandre and Gabryella didn’t take much time to make the decision to get married soon after they first laid eyes on each other.

Having been together for more than a decade, Alexandre Pantoja and his wife aren’t the only two people in their family. They have two beautiful children as well, and their names are Caua and Nicolas Pantoja. In 2024, they were reportedly 13 and 10 years old, respectively. 

Apart from fans getting to know his kids from various social media posts, they also got to see ‘The Cannibal’ celebrating his title defense win with his children at UFC 301.

Meanwhile, there’s no word on whether Alexandre Pantoja’s sons have any interest in competing professionally like their father. However, they’re still pretty young, and they could dive into MMA later when they’re in their late teens, which is a time when many MMA fighters start their journeys. A championship belt, a happy family, and worldwide recognition in MMA, Alexandre Pantoja’s hard work paid off after all. However, as we’ve stated prior, his life was full of tough phases, and those problems he overcame with the help of his wife, Gabryella.

Alexandre Pantoja’s family life and support system

Shortly after winning the UFC title, Pantoja appeared on the ‘MMA Hour’ with Ariel Helwani. There, the then 34-year-old revealed shocking details about the struggles he and his family had to go through, especially during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After the pandemic and after my fight with Manel Kape, I gave some money in the pandemic, my family went back to Brazil. Because I can’t take care of them anymore in the U.S. so I came back to the U.S.,” ‘The Cannibal’ stated. In addition to that, the UFC flyweight champion also revealed how financial struggles led his wife to share a bit of the weight he carried on his shoulders by taking up manual labour to support the family.

Claiming that he had to be a part-time cab driver to sustain himself and his family’s financial position, Alexandre Pantoja said, “I won the fight with Manel [Kape], put all the money in a down payment for that house, and bring my family back, this is more important to myself, when my family was back, the money was short and my wife started to clean houses and I started to drive Uber last year.”

That’s why when Alexandre Pantoja walks into UFC 323 in December with confidence, it’ll be because the champion knows the foundation behind him is unshakeable with a partner who believed long before the belts, and a family that turned struggle into strength!