Alexandre Pantoja lost his flyweight title at UFC 323, after suffering a horrific arm injury in his co-main event fight with Joshua Van.
Pantoja, 35, fell to the canvas after landing a head kick on Van, helped along a little by a push from the challenger. When he tried to post on his arm, it appeared to snap, a dislocation or break from all appearances.
Now, “The Cannibal” has spoken out, and promises that he’ll be back sooner than fans would think. Pantoja posted a number of messages on social media in the wake of the fight, including one in a video with his arm in a sling.
“I’ve been through worse. I’ll come back even stronger, you can be sure of that. Thank you for the messages,” Pantoja posted shortly after the bout’s conclusion.
On Sunday, the Brazilian posted a second message with the aforementioned video. “Thank you all for being with me, there has never been a lack of fight in my life, and once again I will fight against the odds,” Pantoja wrote in the accompanying post. “We’ll be back sooner than you think!!!”
In the video, Pantoja broke down the fight, which lasted just 26 seconds, and explained why he came out guns blazing off the opening bell.
“That’s what happened, you know. Accidents. When I go to the UFC today, I think I had the best shape of my life. When I see Joshua Van on the other side of the octagon, I believe I can finish him in the first round, that’s what I tried to do,” he stated. “Best camp of my life, best weight cut, best everything. I felt so comfortable in the octagon. That’s my octagon, that’s my belt, that’s everything I did in my whole life to that moment. And I just- Joshua just came and won this belt.”
“I talked to my wife about that. It’s not just about myself today, it’s about Joshua Van. Joshua Van, that’s his destiny to win that belt tonight. And he just can win this belt with my injury today. And I talked to God, God gave me the message. I really believe in God, and all the message. I pray a lot.”
“I want to work very hard. I worked very hard all my life, and I’m going to work again, and I’m going to take my belt again,” Pantoja promised. “I really appreciate all the messages.”
Promising not to say “any bullsh*t about anyone,” Pantoja added that “I just want to work very hard and bring my belt to my home again. I appreciate everybody. Tomorrow, fly back home, Monday I start to follow my dream again.”
