Alexandre Pantoja (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) defeated Brandon Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in a five-round battle to win the 125-pound championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. However, considering his fighting style, Henry Cejduo doesn’t think he will maintain his UFC flyweight champion title for long.
Continue reading to learn why Cejudo isn’t too impressed with Patoja’s fight skills and what he thinks could improve.
The fight was an intense battle that lasted for five rounds, with both fighters displaying incredible resilience and skill. The judges’ scorecards reflected the competitiveness of the match, as two officials scored 48-47 in favor of Pantoja, while the third official favored Moreno with a 49-46 score. The bout showcased Pantoja’s initial focus on grappling, while Moreno displayed sharp striking. Pantoja managed to drop Moreno with a punch and inflicted damage, but Moreno remained undeterred and continued to land damaging jabs. The fight saw constant back-and-forth exchanges and relentless aggression from both fighters.
Pantoja successfully took the fight to the ground and attempted to assert his grappling dominance, while Moreno demonstrated constant resilience and evasive maneuvers. Both fighters endured tremendous attacks, with Moreno appearing to land the better strikes, but Pantoja’s relentless forward pressure and grappling exchanges provided a potential advantage. The fight ended with Pantoja on Moreno’s back, delivering punches until the final bell.
With this victory, Pantoja now holds the UFC flyweight title and improved his professional record to 26-5.
Cejudo expressed his admiration for Pantoja’s fighting spirit but raised concerns about his fighting style. According to Cejudo’s remarks on his YouTube channel, he pondered whether Pantoja’s style of fighting would enable him to have a sustained career with six to seven to eight title defenses. Cejudo questioned whether Pantoja could enhance his defensive techniques and become more technically sound in order to overcome any shortcomings.
Pantoja’s aggressiveness, according to Cejudo, cost him the fight against former champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who landed heavy blows in a Fight of the Night decision win in 2019.
According to Cejudo’s analysis, Figueiredo was able to land significant strikes and ultimately emerged victorious in a Fight of the Night decision. Cejudo further stated that in both the first and second fights between Pantoja and Figueiredo, Pantoja endured numerous hits. Cejudo suggested that Figueiredo’s style, which focused on power, was well-suited against Pantoja, as Figueiredo was able to inflict significant damage. Cejudo also noted that when an opponent is hurt, their speed and effectiveness tend to diminish.
So, do you agree with Cejudo’s take on Pantoja’s fighting technique? Comment below to let us know!
