Demetrious Johnson believes that Alexandre Pantoja, the UFC flyweight champion, can provide “stability” to the division. What led to Demetrious having such faith in Alexandre? Will Alexandre be able to provide the stability Demetrious believes he can? Continue reading to find out!
With 11 straight victories, Johnson is the most decorated flyweight champion in company history. He was highly complimentary of Pantoja’s first title defense, which took place this past Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 296. The Brazilian emerged victorious by unanimous decision over Brandon Royal.
“Mighty Mouse,” thought Pantoja looked fantastic and predicted that, based on his early career as a contender in the division, he would have this kind of success.
Johnson expressed his admiration for Alexandre Pantoja, stating that he has always held high praise for him. According to Johnson, Pantoja is a formidable and underrated fighter with excellent grappling skills and a strong chin. Johnson was particularly impressed by Pantoja’s recent fight against Brandon, acknowledging Brandon’s unexpected display of heart and grit. Despite initially thinking Brandon would be dominated by Pantoja, Johnson noted that Brandon performed well, especially on the ground. Johnson anticipates Pantoja’s next opponent in the flyweight division and looks forward to the matchups ahead.
Johnson’s tenure from September 2012 to August 2018 saw him set a record for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history. No 125-pound champion who left the promotion in 2018 has been able to successfully defend their title more than once. The subsequent champions on this list are Pantoja, Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno, and Henry Cejudo.
According to Johnson, Pantoja has the skills to potentially provide some stability at the flyweight championship level.
Johnson mentioned that he believes Brandon has a complete skill set. According to him, the only opportunity Brandon might have missed during the recent weekend was focusing too much on defending takedowns and out striking Pantoja. Johnson expressed doubt about knocking out Pantoja due to his sturdy chin. He suggested that Brandon could have wrestled, putting Pantoja on his back. Johnson observed that in scrambles, Brandon managed to get up and initiate with the jab.
Reflecting on Pantoja, Johnson considered factors such as age, extensive fighting experience, and the duration he wanted to continue in the sport. Johnson emphasized the importance of stability in being a champion, drawing from his own experience of 11 consecutive title defenses with finishes. He pointed out that being a champion involves more than just fights, encompassing training, staying healthy, and maintaining the right mindset. Johnson raised questions about how much longer Pantoja intends to pursue his career, recognizing the multifaceted challenges involved in staying at the top.
What do you feel about Demetrious having this much faith in Alexandre? Will Alexandre be able to do it? Do let us know about your thoughts in the comment section!
