Alexandre Pantoja says he's ready for Joshua Van rematch after arm injury
· Yahoo Sports
Alexandre
Pantoja is eager to reclaim the
Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title.
The former 125-pound champion has been sidelined since suffering an arm injury in his title defense against Joshua Van at UFC 323 last year. "The Cannibal" has now fully healed and believes he is ready to run it back with Van.
Pantoja suffered an arm injury very early into his fight with Van, who caught his kick and forced him backwards before the Brazilian awkwardly posted up on his hand. The referee stopped the bout at 26 seconds, with Pantoja clearly in pain, clutching his arm. His recovery is now complete and he’s targeting an Octagon return.
“I'm ready,” Pantoja told MMA Fighting. “After December, what happened to my arm, two days after that, I went to the gym, started training with just one arm. That's who I am. I'm not done. I'm not done. I have so much to conquer. I have so much to prove. I want to take the belt again. I want to be UFC champion one more time.”
After his anticlimactic title-winning effort, Van successfully defended the flyweight crown with a fifth-round stoppage of Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328. Pantoja has now praised the champion's performance and believes the division has gotten more interesting during his absence.
"Flyweight is better than ever," Pantoja said. "I think what happened with me last year made the division more fire. Now I have the opportunity to take over and beat everybody again."
While he accepts the result of his loss to Van, Pantoja believes he’s still the better fighter.
“Of course, I have unfinished business with Joshua Van. As an athlete, I know I lost the fight,” he added. “That happened. But like a man, I don't think he beat me. I'm still here. I'm ready to fight. I'm in amazing shape. Let's see what happens next.”
The former 125-pound champion has been sidelined since suffering an arm injury in his title defense against Joshua Van at UFC 323 last year. "The Cannibal" has now fully healed and believes he is ready to run it back with Van.
Alexandre Pantoja says he's fully recovered and wants another shot at UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van.
Pantoja suffered an arm injury very early into his fight with Van, who caught his kick and forced him backwards before the Brazilian awkwardly posted up on his hand. The referee stopped the bout at 26 seconds, with Pantoja clearly in pain, clutching his arm. His recovery is now complete and he’s targeting an Octagon return.
“I'm ready,” Pantoja told MMA Fighting. “After December, what happened to my arm, two days after that, I went to the gym, started training with just one arm. That's who I am. I'm not done. I'm not done. I have so much to conquer. I have so much to prove. I want to take the belt again. I want to be UFC champion one more time.”
After his anticlimactic title-winning effort, Van successfully defended the flyweight crown with a fifth-round stoppage of Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328. Pantoja has now praised the champion's performance and believes the division has gotten more interesting during his absence.
"Flyweight is better than ever," Pantoja said. "I think what happened with me last year made the division more fire. Now I have the opportunity to take over and beat everybody again."
While he accepts the result of his loss to Van, Pantoja believes he’s still the better fighter.
“Of course, I have unfinished business with Joshua Van. As an athlete, I know I lost the fight,” he added. “That happened. But like a man, I don't think he beat me. I'm still here. I'm ready to fight. I'm in amazing shape. Let's see what happens next.”
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