Tag: Alexandre Pantoja

With tetralogy delays over, Brandon Moreno lays out contender order after UFC 283

Brandon Moreno has a line of contenders in front of him, including one who approached him backstage moments after his UFC 283 win.

RIO DE JANEIRO – [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] recognizes the UFC flyweight division largely has been held up by his near three-year-long tetralogy with Deiveson Figueiredo.

Saturday at UFC 283, the string of constant rematches seemingly came to an end when Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) broke a 1-1-1 tie with Figueiredo (21-3-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) and defeated his four-time foe by third-round TKO due to doctor stoppage.

Now firmly atop the 125-pound mountain once again, Moreno already is being pressed about the future. Moments after he escaped incoming concessions hurled his way by Brazilian fans during his exit, Moreno was approached by top flyweight contender [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC).

“He was very friendly with me, to be honest, and everything to start,” Moreno told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a post-fight news conference. “He came with me and he said, ‘Hey man, today I feel so happy for you. Congrats for the belt’ or whatever. At that point, everything was fine. There, he started to ask me like, ‘Hey, when is our fight? In two months? In three months? Tell me right now.'”

Moreno laughed at the prospect that he knows all the answers minutes after he won the title. Pantoja was asking the wrong guy.

“Like, I don’t know, to be honest,” Moreno said. “Then he started to look a little bit aggressive, to be honest. My only point was, ‘Let me enjoy today, man. Just give me today. Just let me have this moment with my friends, with my training partners, with my wife, with my manager. Then, we can make another circus on social media with trash talk, if you want. But just give me this moment.’ That was my only point.”

Moreno agreed Pantoja should be the next title challenger in line. In addition to a current three-fight winning streak against top contenders, Pantoja has two wins over Moreno.

“I understand how the line is right now,” Moreno said. “I think for sure Pantoja should fight next for the title. (Matheus) Nicolau is doing an amazing job right now, too, (and) Manel Kape. I think those three guys are the next ones. At the end, I don’t do the decisions. I’m just ready to fight and I’ll be ready for the guy the UFC puts in front.”

Despite their history and somewhat uncomfortable backstage interaction, Moreno said he doesn’t expect the build with Pantoja to get unprofessional or ugly. The two have been cordial through the years, since their time on “The Ultimate Fighter 24,” Moreno indicated.

“I think with Pantoja, we’ll be friends,” Moreno said. “I think right now, he’s very excited and he’s a little bit desperate to get the fight for the title. With all these (rematches) with Deiveson Figueiredo, we started in 2020 and we’re finished in 2023. It’s crazy. I understand the other challengers but I’m ready. Hopefully nothing happened with my knee.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.

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UFC 277 ‘Fight Motion’: Watch Amanda Nunes batter Julianna Peña in super-slow motion

Check out the super-slow motion highlights from UFC 277, including clips of Amanda Nunes’ title-winning performance against Julianna Peña.

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] exacted her revenge against [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] in dominant fashion.

Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) battered Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) to reclaim her bantamweight title in their rematch, which headlined UFC 277 this past Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Peña hung tough by constantly throwing up submissions off her back, but ultimately was bloodied and battered for the majority of the fight.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (20-6-2 MMA, 8-3-2 UFC) landed a big body kick finish of Kai Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) to capture the interim flyweight title.

You can watch it all unfold in super-slow motion in the UFC 277 “Fight Motion” video highlights above.

Also featured are highlights of [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]’s body shot knockout of Rafael Alves, [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]’s TKO of Anthony Smith, [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]’s statement submission of Alex Perez, [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]’s quick finish of Derek Lewis and more.

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Alexandre Pantoja doubts UFC champ Deiveson Figueiredo returns in December: ‘He looks so fat’

Alexandre Pantoja said after UFC 277 that he doesn’t think Deiveson Figueiredo is fit to fight Brandon Moreno in 2022.

DALLAS – [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] isn’t too sure the title unification bout in his division will go down before 2022 is over.

The UFC flyweight contender doesn’t think champion Deiveson Figueiredo will be prime to return later this year to unify the flyweight belts with interim champion Brandon Moreno. Pantoja (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) sees the champion out of form and is beginning to question his future.

“I don’t know if Deiveson Figueiredo is ready to fight in December,” Pantoja said at the UFC 277 post-fight news conference. “He looks so fat. He says he has an injury in his hand and finger, but he looks fat. He can run, lift, but I don’t know, maybe he needs to find a better place to train. But in my position, I need to go back to the gym, work hard, and stay ready for whenever the UFC calls me.”

Pantoja fought on Saturday night and picked up a quick and impressive submission win over Alex Perez on the main card of UFC 277, the same event where Moreno defeated Kai Kara-France to become interim champion.

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The Brazilian veteran fighter is frustrated with his standing in the division. Now on a three-fight winning streak, it’s clear that Pantoja is a standout, but he still remains distant from a title shot given the pending unification bout with Moreno and Figueiredo. Pantoja is happy for Moreno and is open to serve as a backup for the title fight – and if needed, even fight someone else in the meantime.

“It’s an amazing victory for Brandon,” Pantoja said regarding Moreno’s interim title win. “Brandon is a very tough opponent. I fought with both guys in the TUF show, and both guys come to the UFC and make beautiful careers. Both guys have families and are family guys like me, and they make entertaining fights.

“I see now they’ll try to make Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Moreno 4, and that’s frustrating, but the show is that. If I need to fight one more time, I’m here.”

Pantoja later added, “I’m in a position now where I don’t need to call anybody out. The UFC needs to see what’s best for the division.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.

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UFC 277 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2022 total passes $5 million

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 277 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $313,500.

DALLAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 277 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $313,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 277 took place at American Airlines Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

The full UFC 277 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Hamdy Abdelwahab[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Don’Tale Mayes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Adam Fugitt[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Joselyne Edwards[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ji Yeon Kim[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nicolae Negumereanu[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Orion Cosce[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Blood Diamond[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,253,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $11,420,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.

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UFC 277 results: Alexandre Pantoja taps Alex Perez in 91 seconds, calls for title shot

Alexandre Pantoja made the statement of his career at UFC 277 then called for the next flyweight title shot.

[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] further strengthened his case for a title shot Saturday when he defeated [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] at UFC 277.

Pantoja (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) extended his winning streak to three fights with a first-round submission win over Perez (23-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in a high-stakes flyweight matchup with championship implications.

The Brazilian used his elite jiu-jitsu to get the better of Perez and get his hand raised in the main card bout at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

There was no time wasted for Pantoja and Perez to go after it. They charged each other at the opening bell and exchanged wild punches. That opened an opportunity for Pantoja to bounce on the back of Perez, though, and he immediately got a standing body triangle and went to work. He locked a crushing face lock on Perez, who was left with no choice to tap out just 91 seconds after the fight began.

With the win, Pantoja now is 4-1 in his past five fights dating back to December 2019. He’s rapidly closing in on his first UFC title opportunity, but will remain in the queue for champion Deiveson Figueiredo behind the winner of Saturday’s interim flyweight title bout between Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France.

“I’m going to prove it however many times I need to,” Pantoja said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “I know that I’m ready for the title. Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France, I beat them both in two weeks (on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’). The champ is right here.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC 277 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.

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Alexandre Pantoja def. Alex Perez at UFC 277: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Alexandre Pantoja’s submission win over Alex Perez at UFC 277 in Dallas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]’s submission win over [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] at UFC 277 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photos by Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC 277: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Alex Perez odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 277 bout odds and lines between Alexandre Pantoja vs. Alex Perez, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a flyweight bout on the main card, Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez meet Saturday at UFC 277 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Below, we analyze the UFC 277 Pantoja vs. Perez odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

The card can be viewed on ESPN+ with the early prelims starting at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, the prelims starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View.

Pantoja posted a 2nd-Round submission victory via rear-naked choke against Brandon Royval last time out in August 2021. He headed into that bout with a knee injury, and it worsened during the fight so much that he needed surgery and hasn’t fought since.

Pantoja was actually offered a title shot against Brandon Moreno at UFC 269 in mid-December and he had to turn it down as he still wasn’t recovered.

Perez did fight for a title last time out, but he was submitted after just 1:57 at UFC 255 against Deiveson Figueiredo in Nov. 2020. He had his last 4 bouts canceled due to various reasons, including the birth of a son.

The past 3 fights for Perez have resulted in finishes, with the submission loss to Figueiredo, a 1st-Round KO/TKO against Jussier Formiga at UFC 250, and a 1st-Round submission win over Jordan Espinosa in late Jan. 2020.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 277 Pantoja vs. Perez odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:21 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Pantoja -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Perez +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
  • Will the fight go the distance? Yes (-113) | No (-120)

[tipico]

UFC 277 Pantoja vs. Perez picks and predictions

Records: Pantoja (24-5-0) | Perez (24-6-0)

Fight result (2-way line or money line)

This is a difficult fight to handicap, mainly because we haven’t seen either of these fighters in a long time.

However, Pantoja (-200) is the moderate favorite because he holds a 2-inch reach advantage. He also has 2 straight victories in his most recent showings, while the last time we saw Perez he was being tapped by Figueiredo in less than 2 minutes.

It’s risky to play Pantoja straight up, though. Instead, look to PANTOJA BY POINTS (+175) for method of victory. While Perez has 3 straight finishes, both of these fighters are likely to be rather sluggish after long layoffs.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (-113): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is the lean here. There are questions about the cardio of each fighter after a long hiatus, but that means both fighters are likely to be rather slow to engage. The avenue to victory will be by wowing the judges with takedowns and big kicks.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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Photos: UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins in Dallas.

Check out these photos from the UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins which took place at American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

UFC 277 video: Ceremoinal weigh-in faceoffs for all 13 bouts

With one more sleep until UFC 277, get ready for Saturday’s pay-per-view with these final faceoffs.

DALLAS – The UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-ins took place Friday at American Airlines Center, and MMA Junkie was on the scene for the festivities.

The event airs Saturday on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and ESPN+. All 26 fighters on the 13-bout card hit the stage to various reactions from the Texas crowd in attendance.

Both championship fights set for the top of the card squared off, and so did the remaining competitors, including a heavyweight matchup between [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) and [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a potential flyweight No. 1 contender bout between [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (24-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (24-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC), and a key light heavyweight matchup of [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) vs. [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (36-16 MMA, 11-6 UFC).

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The staredowns were intense, yet respectful, and you can watch the video of the three non-title faceoffs above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.

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UFC 277 predictions: Who’s picking upsets in Peña vs. Nunes, Moreno vs. Kara-France title fights?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes and Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France title rematches in Dallas.

Peña
vs.
Nunes		 Moreno
vs.
Kara-France		 Lewis
vs.
Pavlovich		 Pantoja
vs.
Perez		 Ankalaev
vs.
Smith
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
123-73		 nunes2022-1
Nunes
(60%)		 moreno2022
Moreno
(59%)		 lewis2022
Lewis
(57%)		 pantoja2022
Pantoja
(70%)		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
(66%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
136-69
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
132-73
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 pavlovich2022
Pavlovich		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 smith2022
Smith
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
132-73		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
124-77		 pena2022
Peña		 karafrance2022
Kara-France		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
124-77		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 perez2022
Perez		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
124-77		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
121-80		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Nolan King
@mma_kings
119-82		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
118-83
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 smith2022
Smith
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
111-90		 nunes2022-1
Nunes		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 smith2022
Smith
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
98-103		 pena2022
Peña		 moreno2022
Moreno		 lewis2022
Lewis		 pantoja2022
Pantoja		 ankalaev2022
Ankalaev

The UFC is back in Texas this week with a pair of title fights atop the bill.

UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) puts her women’s bantamweight title on the line for the first time when she takes on former champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 14-2 UFC). Peña upset Nunes to win the title this past December at UFC 269. Nunes, who remains the women’s featherweight champ, nearly is a 3-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Peña is +210. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers largely are siding with the former champ to become a two-division titleholder once again. They have Nunes with a big 9-2 picks lead.

In the co-main event, former flyweight champ [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (19-6-2 MMA, 7-3-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (24-9 MMA, 7-2 UFC) for the interim 125-pound title. Moreno holds a December 2019 win over Kara-France. He’s more than a 2-1 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick from our staff members at 10-1.

Also on the main card, former heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) fights in front of his home Texas fans when he meets [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Pavlovich is a slight favorite at -150, but Lewis has massive 10-1 support from our pickers.

[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (24-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is a -180 favorite in his flyweight bout against [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (24-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and has a whopping 10-1 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is the second biggest favorite at the entire event at 6-1 against former light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] (36-16 MMA, 11-6 UFC). Ankalaev has a big 8-3 rout in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Nunes (60 percent), Moreno (59 percent), Lewis (57 percent), Pantoja (70 percent) and Ankalaev (66 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.

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