The Flyweight Champion of the UFC clearly has no intentions to leave quickly.
Joe Rogan believes that Alexandre Pantoja does not get the honor he deserves after what he has achieved on 125 pounds.
With four title defenses that are already under his belt, the Brazilian is now in his next outing against Joshua van.
Pantoja recently claimed that he believes that he can break the record of Demetrious Johnson for successive title defenses within three years.
Although 'The Cannibal' has been very impressive, he has also been tested in the Octagon, where Steve Erceg almost retrieves the leash of the champion at UFC 301.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Steve Erceg mentions Tatsuro Taira under Brandon Moreno and himself as the biggest threats of Alexandre Pantoja
On UFC 301 Groeven Alexandre Pantoja deep in the final round to get to the top of his second defending defense against Steve Erceg.
Although the flying weight division is in the best place where it has been around for a long time, if there is one problem, it is that the champion has already defeated many of the top names that are still high in the ranking.
In the top 10 alone, he has already recorded victories more than six of them, not to mention the fact that he has defeated some of them several times.
Pantoja's opponents who are currently in the top 10current flyweight ranking load Time Pantoja Fought ThemRevelkai Kara-France#6ufc 317-2025Submission-Round 3steve Erceg#10UfCOVOUn Decisionimous Decisionimous Decisionimous Decisionimous Decisionimous Decisionimous Decisionimous Decisionbrandon Moreno#2UFC 290 – 2023 Split Decisionalex Perez#8ufc 277 – 20222Submission – Round 1Manel Kape#7ufc Fight Night – 2021Nanimous Decision
Erceg hopes that, despite his current series of results, which he will try to place behind him this Saturday on UFC Vegas 109, he can go back to a title shot and earn a rematch with pantoja.
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow he called himself and Brandon Moreno, who gave Pantoja a very close fight the last time they met on UFC 290, as two contenders that he believes they pose the biggest threat to the champion's regime.
However, Erceg mentioned a third name that has not yet come face to face with 'The Cannibal', the 25-year-old Tatsuro Taira who recovered from his first defeat with a dominant victory last weekend.
“I think honestly, Moreno always has the chance to beat him. He is clearly very good. Of course I believe that I can, but the other person I would put in that bracket is Taira. I think Taira is really good.”
Steve Erceg's most important focus at the moment is on returning to the winning column at all costs
Steve Erceg apparently has a lot to think about the return of his return to the UFC Apex on Saturday evening.
Although he suffered three consecutive losses in a row in a row, two of them were current or former flight weight champions in Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Moreno, where he fell in two very competitive battles.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
The former title Challenger has also completed several opponents before he finally landed on a matchup with Ode Osbourne before August 9.
He told Bloody Elbow that the opponent is not relevant to him this time.
“Yes, exactly what you said. I just have to get some victories on the board. So whether that is a man -arranged man against a top five, if that is against a man outside the ranking, it doesn't matter. I don't just have to show, not just to other people, but for myself, that I can go back here and get some victories.”