UFC 317 star Alexandre Pantoja is not to be messed with on the ground.
Pantoja is one of the UFC’s longest-reigning champions, having collected the flyweight gold back in the summer of 2023. Since then, ‘The Cannibal’ has remained active by recording three successful title defenses.
To set up his upcoming fourth against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317, Pantoja submitted newcomer Kai Asakura at UFC 310 last December. The Brazilian left his Japanese rival unconscious with a tight rear-naked choke.
And that was far from being the first time Pantoja put an opponent out cold with the same move.
Alexandre Pantoja left opponent convulsing in penultimate fight before UFC shot
Before arriving in the UFC by way of The Ultimate Fighter in 2016, Pantoja outlined himself as a prospect to watch with back-to-back title wins on the regional scene. Both fights featured ‘The Cannibal’ choking his opponents out, but the first was especially brutal.
Pantoja challenged for the Resurrection Fighting Alliance flyweight title in December 2014, a couple of years before the promotion merged with the well-known Legacy Fighting Alliance brand.
The Brazilian brought an end to the fight midway through round two when he took Matt Manzanares’ back in classic fashion before sinking in a rear-naked choke. The American fought against the submission for 25 seconds but ultimately succumbed, falling unconscious.
As Pantoja celebrated, Manzanares lay twitching on the ground in a harrowing scene before awaking and being told what had happened.
Alexandre Pantoja couldn’t finish UFC 317 opponent in their first fight
After attracting the UFC’s attention and joining the cast of The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions, Pantoja continued his submission trend.
In his round of 16 bout, Pantoja finished Brandon Moreno with a rear-naked choke years before their two fights in the Octagon, the second of which saw ‘The Cannibal’ win the title at UFC 290.
It was at the quarterfinal stage where Pantoja met his upcoming opponent, Kara-France. ‘Don’t Blink’ took the Brazilian to the scorecards but was unable to do enough to halt his charge.
The pair will now renew hostilities almost a decade later at UFC 317, where defending champ Pantoja will look to improve on his amateur win over Kara-France with a finish inside the distance.