Alexandre Pantoja makes flyweight title statement with huge KO at UFC on ESPN+ 23

Brazilian flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja stunned Matt Schnell with a first-round KO, then called for a shot at the UFC’s 125-pound title.

Seasoned fight fans scanning the fight card ahead of UFC on ESPN+ 23 in South Korea will have circled the flyweight clash between [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag] as one to keep a close eye on.

And the two Top 10 125-pounders delivered a crazy back-and-forth slugfest that eventually ended with a huge first-round knockout victory for Pantoja as the Brazilian staked a spectacular claim for a shot at the UFC flyweight title.

The bout opened up with a wild striking exchange between the pair before the pace settled and the two fighters looked to work an opening for their strikes. Clearly, takedowns and grappling were secondary to the gameplans of both men as they planted their feet and swung for the fences, and Pantojoa hit paydirt with a huge right hand that sent Schnell face-planting into the canvas as referee Marc Goddard dived in to end the contest at the 4:17 mark.

It was a statement victory for Pantoja, who came through the 24th season of The Ultimate Fighter with Schnell. And the Brazilian admitted the pair were good friends, despite their all-out war inside the cage in Busan.

“This guy is very good,” he said after the fight. “He’s my friend. Me and him came to Korea to make a big show.

“He’s an excellent fighter. Everybody knows that we knew each other from The Ultimate Fighter. I knew I needed to put the pressure on him, and I know he’s going to be back and he’s going to make a lot of noise in this division, as well.”

And after reliving his highlight-reel finish, Pantoja served notice to Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo, who will face off for the vacant UFC flyweight title at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Virginia on Feb. 29.

“It’s going to be an excellent fight,” he said. “I think Deiveson Figueiredo made his own (luck) to get there. He deserves the title, but I’m gonna be next.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 23 results include:

  • Alexandre Pantoja def. Matt Schnell via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:17
  • Raoni Barcelos def. Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Amanda Lemos def. Miranda Granger via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:43
  • Heili Alateng def. Ryan Benoit via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)