Alexandre Pantoja Calls Out UFC Pound-For-Pound Rankings

Alexandre Pantoja Calls Out UFC Pound-For-Pound Rankings

At UFC 317, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja dominantly defended his title as he submitted Kai Kara-France in the third round. Now, he is demanding respect and wants to move up in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

Pantoja spoke about his position in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings in his UFC 317 post-fight interview.

“It doesn’t make sense if I am not number two,” Pantoja said. “I am just behind Islam Makhachev. That does not make sense. Five fights for a title, eight victories in a streak, second submission, fourth title defense – numbers don’t lie. The only guy I accept that, is Islam Makhachev because he have the numbers. I try to understand the pound-for-pound rankings. I think maybe it’s the more victories, victories with ranked guys- I don’t know — Like you put Jack Della Maddalena in front of me. You think I need to beat Jack Della Maddalena to get his position? That’s crazy. I think it’s time to respect more flyweights.”

Pantoja entered UFC 317 fight week in a tie for the No. 9 rank in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. He sat in a deadlock with former two-division champion Alex Pereira. That ranking also makes Pantoja the lowest-ranked champion.

The UFC pound-for-pound rankings are never great, but Pantoja’s ranking carries more disrespect than the list’s other issues. It is hard to claim that he should be the lowest-ranked champion when he has the most title defenses of any current male champion.

Pantoja’s ranking is a direct reflection of the perception around the flyweight division. If he had this level of success in any other weight class, he would be in the top five of the rankings.

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Thankfully for Pantoja, the easier way to move up in the pound-for-pound rankings is to complain about them. In all likelihood, he will jump up a few spots when the newest rankings are released.

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