UFC 310 is right behind the corner, and who is better to talk about it than the reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja? No one is better, as the flyweight division never disappoints. With the upcoming bout between Pantoja and Kai Asakura scheduled for UFC 310 on December 7th, Alexandre shared his thoughts with good people from Stake, where he is employed as an ambassador for the sports betting and casino brand.
Keep reading to find out Pantoja’s thoughts on the entire division and former champions and pioneers in the divisions, such as Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo, who did wonders for him and the rest of the top fighters who came afterward, such as Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara France, and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Today, we have flyweight as one of the most exciting weight classes in the UFC, and Pantoja stands at the top of it, ready to defend his title once again. So, stick with us for just another few lines as we bring you the best bits from the Stake’s exclusive interview with Alexandre Pantoja.
How Did the Flyweight Division Went From Almost Extinct to Most Exciting?
According to Alexandre Pantoja, the flyweight division was never in a better place. For the Brazilian fighter, the division is where it is today thanks to Demetrious Johnson, who was at the top for so long. After him, there were Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo, who did a fantastic job keeping the division alive. For Pantoja, the biggest flyweight win in recent memories was achieved by Henry Cejudo, who won titles at both flyweight and bantamweight, showing just what flyweight is made out of. Deiveson is another fighter who went up to bantamweight and is doing good for himself, notes Pantoja.
For the flyweight champion, the most significant success for the entire division is that everyone remotely into MMA can tell you five to ten fighters. For Pantoja, just going five years back, no one could conjure that many names. Today, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt states that every kid knows the names of Kai Asakura, Kai Kara France, Brandon Moreno, Muhammad Mokaev, and Deiveson Figueiredo. Furthermore, he adds that you have the flyweight division hosting the main events these days, and it’s not just this year. Pantoja concludes that the Flyweight division is full of great moments, and no one should look past Royval vs. Taira and me vs. Steve Erceg’s fights.
Could You Follow Henry Cejudo’s Path and Challenge Merab Dvalishvili for the Bantamweight Title?
For Pantoja, the right moment for him to move to bantamweight and challenge the champion was when Sean O’Malley was there as the reigning champ, but that train passed by as no one was in awe of Sean anymore, states Alexandre. Pantoja was prepared to take on O’Malley because of a gym video Sean posted online in which he beats Pantoja. O’Malley made a lot of fuss about that training session, but as far as Octagon is concerned, I could take him on, claims Pantoja.
At the moment, Pantoja is too busy with his own division to even think about moving on, as he still has Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara France to fight, among many other notable fighters. Also, Kai Asakura, the former Rizin champion, is the only thing in my focus who boasts Alexandre. Fans want to watch me fight a fighter from another promotion and show just how brutal UFC is, and I’m about to deliver the Brazilian flyweight champion. To be the best in the world in MMA, you need to come to the UFC and start winning, and that’s what I’ve done and will do in the next match, as said by Pantoja.
Given your interest in UFC’s crossover with talents like Kai Asakura, would you be open to fighting Rodtang from ONE Championship?
That would be a good fight, notes Pantoja. Yet, there are rankings. The moment with Kai Asakura is an exception, not the rule, and my next fight will be with someone with the rankings to push for the title as it should be against, adds Alexandre. For the moment, my whole focus is on the Asakura fight, and in the meantime, a worthy opponent will pop out as I have already beaten every fighter in the division for the title, and those who I haven’t been beaten by the guys I took down states Pantoja. At UFC 310, Stake.com and similar betting outlets have Pantoja as a clear-cut favorite, and he has the confidence not to disappoint the odds makers.
Did Demetrious Johnson Retire Too Early?
Yes, he did, as it was my dream fight screams Pantoja. Going back and having one fight on my own would be against the Mighty Mouse. Alexandre thinks that Johnson retired too early as he’s young enough to take on the best that division has to offer, and that’s him. At the same time, Pantoja understands that Johnson had a tremendous run in the UFC and that he’s now enjoying the days in retirement, leaving space for other fighters in the flyweight division to do what he has done and to achieve what he’s achieved.
Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno have won since your last fights with them. Who do you think deserves the title shot more, and why?
You ask tough questions, joked Pantoja. My next opponent was supposed to be Brandon Royval, notes Pantoja. He’s coming in strong after two consecutive wins. But you also have Brandon Moreno, a massive international star who just took care of Amir Albazi in a fashionable way. The flyweight champion says Kai Kara France should also be in the mix despite losing two out of the last three bouts. For me, Manel Kape and Muhammad Mokaev should be addressed. Many of these fights make sense, but Demetrious Johnson should be brought back from the retirement jokes Pantoja.
Jon Jones defeated Stipe Miocic recently and now wants to challenge Alex Pereira. How do you think your fellow countryman will fare against the heavyweight champion?
That’s the fight you, as a fan, want to see and a fight Dana White should make. But, one fighter needs to lose, which no one wants to see at this point and is perceived as bad for the company, notes Pantoja. According to Pantoja, Jon Jones was brutal against Stipe, and Alex Pereira showed his class in the last three fights, putting themselves at the top of the UFC pyramid. To be the fighter in three main events on short notice is extraordinary, claims Pereira’s compatriot. Poatan is all about skill, and his aura is unparalleled in MMA. In Jones vs. Pereira, I would give Jones 60-40 chances to Jones conclude Pantoja regarding this potential bout. If you partake in some UFC betting, who would you favor?
After Charles Oliveira’s win over Michael Chandler, can he reclaim the lightweight title in a rematch with Islam Makhachev?
For Pantoja, Charles didn’t break a sweat to beat Michael Chandler. At the same time, he notes that Chandler and Makhachev are far from fighters. They’re too different, claims Pantoja. Alexandre sees Islam as a one-of-a-kind fighter, who in Octagon is a man on a mission prepared to win every bout or die trying. He has that spirit, that fire, that passion to drive on in his eyes, and it’s more than noticeable, states Pantoja. When Charles develops the same bright flames in his eyes, he can beat any opponent, Pantoja is sure.
How does it feel to see your country continue to thrive in MMA?
For Pantoja, it is an honor to be a part of the top-tier Brazilian fighters to ever greet the Octagon. To be spoken of in the same breath as Jose Aldo, Anderson Silva, Charles Oliveira, Minotauro Nogueira, and Fabricio Werdum is a true honor and proof that Brazil is a country of top fighters, states Pantoja. Brazilians know how to fight and to adopt and hone every skill. Look at how we excelled in Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, and other eastern disciplines, such as Alexandre. The flyweight champion claims that the recipe for success is to travel abroad and learn different fighting cultures and styles, just as he did when he came to America to learn more about wrestling. It is the only path to fighting evolution and an approach that Pantoja would love to see more of his fellow Brazilian fighters adopt.
Types of UFC Bets & How to Bet on UFC & MMA
Now that you’ve heard what flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has to say on all things MMA and the upcoming UFC 310, you’re probably eager to get closer to the event, learn about other bouts, and consider putting a few bets here and there. Don’t worry; we’re on the same page as you. UFC events offer plenty of bouts, from prelim rounds all the way to main and co-main events. The best way to get the best out of the event is to learn the types of UFC bets and how to place them. Here’s how:
- First, you need to open an account at one of the web’s most cherished casinos and sports betting platforms and Stake that profile perfectly. Once you have an account, you should log in and choose the amount you want to deposit. It is essential to choose a platform that offers different ways to deposit. You might be in a pinch if the payment method doesn’t fit your favorite currency.
- Once the funds have been added, you need to scroll the main page of your selected bookmaker, search for the MMA section, and click on the upcoming UFC events, and UFC 310 should be somewhere.
- When you set your eyes on the desired event, you will be given all the available fights tied to that specific event. This is where you go through available odds and pick your favorites. That’s the moment where you start winning if you choose right.
- Modern bookmakers take good care of their clients, so on every betting platform, you can find betting guides, picks, and stats for all the upcoming events. It would be best to go through these to make the best possible decision for yourself. When betting, it is good to have fun, but what matters even more is hitting on your picks and winning some money while having a good time.
- The last but not least thing is to immerse yourself into the world of MMA, UFC, and sports betting all in one. The way to do this is by watching all the matches you’ve placed bets on. When you choose a suitable betting platform and open an account, streaming all available matches is free. So, make your picks in every department with utmost care.
When everything we said above is settled down, you must learn about the viable bets. Odds only tell part of the story. The odds you’re first given go for the outright winner. That’s the initial bet for UFC and MMA – betting on the match winner. Yet, it gets better. Other available bets when it comes to MMA and UFC are:
- Match winner
- Asian totals
- Winning method
- Winning method (double chance)
- Winner and exact rounds
- Will the fight go the distance?
- Parlays
UFC 310 is almost upon us, and we only have a few days to go. So be sure that you’re careful when you pick your poison. You’ve heard what Alexandre Pantoja had to say about the upcoming bout, so take a piece of his confidence and bet on the Brazilian fighter defending his title against the Rizin challenger. The rest of the card is for grabs, so take your picks.