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Alexandre Pantoja opens door to Merab Dvalishvili fight
UFC 317 co-headliner Alexandre Pantoja spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for his flyweight title defense vs. Kai Kara-France in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – Alexandre Pantoja has heard some of the fan chatter rallying behind a potential champion vs. champion superfight with Merab Dvalishvili. Unfortunately for those fans, Pantoja isn’t too keen on the idea.
Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC), champion of the UFC flyweight division, is more interested in maintaining his reign in his weight class than going up to challenge Dvalishvili for a second divisional title. The Brazilian, who defends his belt Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 317 against Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC), didn’t outright shut down a fight with Dvalishvili, but he did express little interest in making it happen – at least in the immediate future.
“I have a huge respect for Merab,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 317 media day. “… Merab passed through everything like myself and I have really respect for that. … I want to fight the best in the world. If I have an opportunity to fight with Merab, of course I would accept, but that’s not something I really look for.
“I have my division. I’m super excited for that division. There are a couple of new names coming. Joshua Van is a nice surprise for everybody. He fights so good. He make a very good fight against Bruno, and maybe he’s the next challenger for me.”
Pantoja is enjoying very much the current state of the UFC flyweight division. He thinks it’s the best it’s ever been. Pantoja sees many options for his next title defense, should he beat Kara-France, including 23-year-old Joshua Van, who’s fighting veteran Brandon Royval on short notice at UFC 317.
“I’m super excited with (flyweight),” Pantoja said. “People say, ‘Hey, you need to move on to bantamweight.’ No way, man. We have so many entertaining fights here. Joshua Van, I say the guy, he grabbed the golden ticket like the Willy Wonka Factory. He has the ticket, man. That’s super crazy. If he passes Royval, he’s the next on the line. Of course, you have Kyogi, Manel Kape is there. I feel bad for Manel Kape. Every time he’s close to the belt, something happens. I know he’s a very good fighter, and he has a lot of skills. I hope to fight him in the future.
“I want to fight against the best guys in the world. That’s what I like. That’s it. Flyweight. I think last year, 2024, was the best year for flyweight. People are staring to appreciate much more that division. Now you can say 10, 15 names from the flyweight division, and I’m the champion of that.”
UFC 317 takes place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card is available on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
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