In the fast growing world of mixed martial arts (MMA), few UFC fighters have displayed the consistent dominance performance and one of the fighter named Alexandre Pantoja, the UFC Flyweight Champion. Yet, despite his remarkable achievements, Pantoja remains a name that always in buzz of MMA world. With four consecutive title defenses and an eight-fight win streak, the question arises: Is Alexandre Pantoja the most underrated champion of 2025? In this article, deep dives into Alexandre Pantoja’s incredible MMA journey, his top notch skill set, and why he deserves more recognition in the MMA community.
The Rise of Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja
Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja, has been a fighter in the UFC Flyweight division since his debut in 2017. He represents Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, and his MMA journey to the top was not easy. After a semifinal exit on The Ultimate Fighter(TUF) 24 in 2016, he earned a UFC contract and quickly shows his performance and marked himself as a interesting contender. His ability to mix grappling with sharp striking and his unmatched work ethics and ground game creates a problems for the opponents.
Pantoja claimed the UFC Flyweight Championship on July 8, 2023, defeating Brandon Moreno in a thrilling five-round battle at UFC 290. Since then, he has defended his title four times, a feat unmatched by any current UFC champion in 2025. His victories and championship fights over top contenders like Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 showcase his ability to dominate a highly competitive division of UFC.
Why Pantoja’s Dominance Stands Out
Alexandre Pantoja’s flyweight title reign is defined by his powerful skills,fight IQ and durability. Here are some key highlights of his dominance:
- Undefeated in Rematches: Pantoja win all 3 rematches in his MMA career, by defeating Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Kai Kara-France with improved performances each time and shows his dominance.
- Record-Breaking Stats: He holds UFC Flyweight records for the most wins (14), submissions, and finishes, shows his ability to end fights decisively.
- Never Finished: In his 35-fight MMA pro-career, Pantoja has never been knocked out or submitted, showcasing his resilience.
- Unmatched Grappling and Striking: His submission wins, including rear-naked chokes against Asakura and Kai Kara-France, display his elite level grappling, while his powerful striking has surprised opponents like Steve Erceg.
At UFC 317, Alexandre Pantoja’s 3rd round submission win over Kai Kara-France validated his status as the second-best flyweight ever, behind only Demetrious Johnson. His ability to outstrike and outgrapple opponents makes him a complete MMA fighter, still he didn’t appreciated by casual MMA fans.
Alexandre Pantoja: Most Underrated Champion of 2025 in UFC
Despite his accomplishments, Alexandre Pantoja’s social media following lags behind other UFC champions, with just under 200,000 followers compared to millions for fighters like Sean O’Malley or Alex Pereira or Islam Makhachev. Several factors contribute to his underrated champion status:
Flyweight Division Stigma: Historically, the flyweight division has struggled to gain mainstream attention and popularity compared to other weight division. Pantoja’s exciting fighting style and the division’s current depth should change this perception, but old biases persist.
Lack of Trash Talk: Unlike some other UFC champions who rely on pre-fight excitment to promote their fight, Pantoja lets his performances speak for themselves. He carries himself with the calm confidence of legends like Georges St-Pierre— a sharp contrast to the loud, trash-talking personalities that rule today’s MMA scene.
Language Barrier: As a Brazilian whose first language isn’t English, Pantoja’s interviews and promos may not resonate as widely with English-speaking audiences, limiting his mainstream appeal.
Posts on Twittwe/X reflect growing sentiment among fans and analysts that Pantoja is No. 9 pound-for-pound ranking is unjustice, with many arguing he deserves a top-five spot given his dominance and strength of schedule. Even Joe Rogan has endorsed Pantoja’s greatness, liking his Instagram post and adding a goat emoji after his performance in UFC 317.
Alexadnre Pantoja’s Champion Mentality and always hungry for more
Pantoja’s success stems from his unique championship mindset. At the UFC 317 post-fight press conference, he explained, “When I step into the octagon, I’m no longer the champion of the world—I’m the challenger. I have the opportunity to get this belt with a challenger spirit, but with a champion mentality”. This mindset keeps him hungry, and ensuring that he never underestimates his opponents like Joshua Van, his likely next challenger after Van’s Fight of the Night performance against Royval at UFC 317.
Alexandre Pantoja’s personal story also adds value to his legacy. Pantoja raised by a single mother after his father left the family, he revealed his emotion in a post-fight interview after UFC 290, asking his absent father if he was proud of him now. He also face financial struggle in his initial career and his journey from financial struggles to UFC champion resonates with fans who see his authenticity and perseverance.
The Future: Can Alexandre Pantoja Elevate the Flyweight Division?
With a potential title defense against Joshua Van looming, Pantoja faces a new challenge from a young, motivated contender. A win could further solidify his legacy and bring more attention to the flyweight division, which he believes is one of the UFC’s best fighter. “Fights like Joshua Van and Royval, my fight with Kai Kara-France, Moreno and Albazi-we have so many good fighters,” Pantoja said, urging fans to respect the 125-pound division.
Pantoja’s call for respect echoes across MMA media, with outlets like MMA Fighting and Yahoo Sports noting his push for a higher pound-for-pound ranking, potentially second only to Islam Makhachev. If Pantoja continues his reign, he could redefine the flyweight division’s perception, much like Anderson Silva did for middleweights.
Conclusion: Time to Give Alexandre Pantoja His Due
Alexandre Pantoja’s dominance in 2025 is undeniable. With four title defenses, an eight-fight win streak, and a record-breaking resume, he’s proven himself as one of the UFC’s elite fighter. Yet, his lack of mainstream hype makes him the most underrated champion of the year. As he prepares for his next challenge, it’s time for fans, media, and the UFC to give Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja the respect he deserves. Will Pantoja’s next fight finally cement his status as a pound-for-pound great? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Upcoming UFC event is : Unbelievable Announcement : UFC 318 – Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier 3