Alexandre
Pantoja sees his success as a testament to those who invested
time, money, energy and expertise in his mixed martial arts career
many moons ago.
“The seed that was planted when I was very young is bearing fruit,”
he told Sherdog.com. “Many people helped along the way, making that
seed grow into a solid tree. I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved
thanks to those people. They didn’t let me give up. They helped it
all happen. They’re still by my side, and their happiness motivates
me to continue. I still want to prove myself. I want to see how far
I can go.”
Pantoja will put his undisputed
Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title on the line when
he confronts
Steve Erceg
in the
UFC
301 headliner this Saturday at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
The 34-year-old Brazilian enters his latest assignment on the
strength of a five-fight winning streak. Pantoja last fought at UFC
296, where he laid claim to a five-round unanimous decision over
Brandon
Royval in their Dec. 16 rematch. He views Erceg as a viable
threat.
“Erceg is a very tough fighter,” Pantoja said. “He’s big and strong
for our weight class. He’s also young. He’s one of the new
generation of guys coming to MMA. I’m getting ready harder than
usual, especially since we’ll be fighting in my home. I want to put
on a great show for everyone. I’m confident that Erceg deserves
this shot. I’m training very hard for my fight. I’m still
evolving.”
Erceg, 28, has rattled off 11 consecutive victories, the last three
of them in the UFC. The well-rounded Australian nailed down his
title shot in March, when he punched out
Matt
Schnell in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 238
pairing. Erceg has secured eight of his 12 professional wins by
knockout, technical knockout or submission.
“I always talk about how tough the flyweight division is,” Pantoja
said. “Without a doubt, any Top 10 guy can bring a difficult
challenge to the champion. I’ll make sure I do everything in my
power to remain the world champion.”
Pantoja continues to operate out of the famed
American Top Team camp in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he
enjoys daily access to world-class coaches and sparring
partners.
“Training there is what made it possible for me to become the UFC
champion,” he said. “Once I set foot in the academy after my
fights, I don’t see myself as the champ. I have to chase after my
goals all over again so I can recapture the belt on May 4. My
training partners are a big help. They have high expectations of
me. They beat me up every day. My coaches know me very well. We’re
living through a great period together. They know how hard we have
to work to bring home the victory.”
Now recognized as one of the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the
UFC, Pantoja concedes his life has changed since he dethroned
Brandon
Moreno and captured the flyweight crown in July.
“The best part of making more money, now that I’m the champ, is
having more time for my family,” he said. “Two years ago, I was an
Uber driver, and my wife also needed to work. We didn’t get to
enjoy much time with each other or with our children. I see this
additional money as giving that time. It was the best part of
becoming champion.”