Watch the UFC 277 pre-fight press conference on MMA Junkie.
DALLAS – MMA Junkie is on the scene for the UFC 277 pre-fight news conference, which takes place at American Airlines Center, which also hosts Saturday night’s pay-per-view event.
Participating in Thursday’s news conference will be headliners [autotag]Julianna Pena[/autotag] and [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag], and co-headliners [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]. Also, main card fighters [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag], [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag], [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag], [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag], and [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag].
The best facts and figured about UFC 277, where Brandon Moreno could join an exclusive and unusual list with an interim title win.
The UFC closes out its busy July schedule with its second numbered event of the month. UFC 277 takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas, and the main card is set to air on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ABC and early prelims on ESPN+.
The most anticipated rematch in women’s bantamweight history headlines the card. [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will attempt to show her December victory to win the title was no fluke when she runs it back with former divisional titleholder [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 14-2 UFC).
Another championship rematch serves as the co-main event, but this time it’s for interim gold in the flyweight division as [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-2 UFC) will attempt to repeat his December 2019 win over [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (24-9 MMA, 7-2 UFC) when they run it back to see who gets the next bout with Deiveson Figueiredo.
After his bout with Askar Askarov was scrapped, Alex Perez now faces another top contender in Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 277.
It didn’t take long for [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] to get a new fight.
Perez originally was scheduled to face Askar Askarov on July 16 at UFC on ESPN 38 in Long Island, N.Y., but the fight was scrapped when Askarov withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
Instead, Perez will now face another top contender in [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] at UFC 277 on July 30 in Dallas. A person with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie that verbal agreements are in place for the bout but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Ag Fight was first to report the booking, and Perez subsequently confirmed it on Instagram.
Perez (24-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has now seen six straight bouts canceled. The 30-year-old hasn’t competed since his title-fight submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in November 2020 at UFC 255. Prior to that, Perez notched three consecutive wins over Mark De La Rosa, Jordan Espinosa and Jussier Formiga.
Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is coming off back-to-back wins over Manel Kape and most recently a Performance of the Night submission of Brandon Royval last August. The Brazilian also holds wins over current interim title challengers Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France, who square off on the same night as Pantoja and Perez.
UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno sends a stern warning to Alexandre Pantoja.
[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] is warning [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] to be careful with his words.
The UFC flyweight champion feels Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is entering dangerous territory with his recent comments following his submission win over Brandon Royval at UFC on ESPN 29 earlier this month.
The Brazilian flyweight contender immediately called out Moreno (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-2 UFC) for a championship fight during his post-fight interview. Pantoja also told reporters backstage that he feels Moreno is a “little scared” as he holds two wins over him – one in 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129 and the other in an exhibition bout during their stint in “The Ultimate Fighter.”
“I think this kid is making a big mistake saying I’m scared of him,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I’ve never been afraid. I don’t know if I’m too brave or too stupid, but I’ve never been scared, and much less now that I feel at the best point of my life. I’m 27 years old, and I’ve never felt as good as I feel now.
“I can’t deny the truth. He beat me twice, and I’m not going to be able to shake that off. That’s there, that’s on the record and on the history of my life and career. The only thing I can control is the present and keep advancing and evolving like I’ve done until now. I haven’t received an official offer, but if it’s Alexander Pantoja, he’s making a big mistake saying I’m scared of him because that’s a lie.”
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Moreno is not one to trash talk and is not necessarily bothered by Pantoja’s comments. However, the man that steps in the cage to go to war, who Moreno has described in the past as a different person, is keeping tabs.
“He’s not waking anything up in me, I’m good,” Moreno said. “I’m always focused and I’m always very happy, but he is waking up something in the other guy. And the other guy doesn’t play games. I’m cool, I’m relaxed, but the other guy is not. Don’t play with him.”
Moreno hasn’t received any offers for his first official UFC title defense. The Mexican feels Pantoja is likely going to be next and finds December to be a good return date for him.
“Yeah, (I’d like a rematch) but not in a way that I’m angry or from my ego wanting to beat him because he defeated me,” Moreno said. “Not in that manner. I would like that fight to see how much I’ve evolved and prove to myself and also to the people how far I’ve come in this sport.”
Check out the list of medical suspensions from UFC on ESPN 29 in Las Vegas.
[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] exited UFC on ESPN 29 on a wave of momentum after their wins – but they didn’t do so unscathed.
Both Cannonier and Pantoja were handed 180-day suspensions by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC), according to a list MMA Junkie acquired Wednesday from MixedMartialArts.com, the ABC’s official database.
In his main event win over [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag], Cannonier suffered a right foot injury. As for Pantoja, a win in a potential title eliminator battle with [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] resulted in a left knee injury. Depending on the severity of the fighters’ injuries, they could be ineligible to compete until February.
Also receiving 180-day suspensions were the aforementioned Royval, [autotag]Luis Saldana[/autotag], [autotag]Domingo Pilarte[/autotag], and [autotag]Josiane Nunes[/autotag].
It’s important to note fighters’ suspensions may terminate sooner than the date listed if their injury is cleared by a medical doctor.
Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC on ESPN 29, Bellator 265 and 2021 PFL Playoffs 2.
What mattered most in a loaded MMA weekend that included UFC on ESPN 29 in Las Vegas; Bellator 265 in Sioux Falls, S.D.; and 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 in Hollywood, Fla.? Here are a few post-fight musings …
Alexander Pantoja calls for next title shot at UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, eyes December date.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] might not have the belt in hand, but he thinks he’s above the champion.
The UFC flyweight title contender wants to get a title shot against newly crowned champion Brandon Moreno, a man whom he’s beaten twice, following his latest win in the octagon.
Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) defeated Brandon Royval by second-round submission in the opening bout of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 29 main card.
The Brazilian is hoping to fight Moreno later this year and he’s confident he can get the job done a third time against the Mexican titleholder.
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“I say December because I think Brandon will want that time,”
Pantoja said. “I’m ready to fight. I don’t know if Moreno wants to fight this year or next year, but I know he knows I’m coming for the title.
“He knows my game. I beat him two times. I think he’s maybe a little scared because he lost to me via submission, and then when he had the possibility to get revenge against me, I destroyed him. I made it 30-26. I proved I’m better.
“When he came to the UFC, you see he’s good – but I’m better. He has the title, but he knows I’m much better when we fought three years ago.”
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Pantoja beat Moreno in 2018 at a UFC Fight Night event in Chile and in 2016 in an exhibition bout that was part of “The Ultimate Fighter 24” reality series.
There are several names at 125 pounds angling to be Moreno’s first title defense. But despite the competition, Pantoja is confident he’s next in line.
“I’m the next for the title – he knows that,” Pantoja said. “Maybe he retires. I don’t know what’s in his mind. But he knows me and he knows my power with my hands and my grappling. I think I’m the most dangerous guy in that division.”
After a high-energy win, Alexandre Pantoja was given the opportunity to send a message to the champion sitting cageside.
[autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] could be next in line for a UFC flyweight title shot.
In the UFC on ESPN 29 main card opener Saturday, Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) submitted [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) with a rear-naked choke at 1:46 of Round 2. The event took place UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
Following Friday’s ceremonial faceoffs, UFC president Dana White indicated the winner of the fight will be next in line for flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who was in attendance at Saturday’s event. If that holds true, Pantoja punched his ticket as the next title challenger.
The first round was filled with grappling scrambles and wild striking exchanges. In the first few seconds of the fight, Pantoja muscled Royval to the canvas. From there, Royval countered with leg submission attempts. Back on the feet, Pantoja landed a series of hard punches, one of which, in particular, hurt Royval, who covered his eye.
Royval fought through the blow to the eye. In Round 2, Pantoja quickly worked to the back of Royval again. This time, Royval was unable to wiggle his way out. From there, Pantoja locked in his grip, and after a brief struggle, got the tap.
Following the win, Pantoja was given the opportunity to send a message to Moreno, who sat cage-side as part of the UFC’s Spanish-language broadcast. While Pantoja’s two career wins over Moreno were brought up by Daniel Cormier, Pantoja elected to compliment the champion and his improvement over the years. He also hinted at a potential September matchup.
“The first time I won (against) him on TUF, he came back to the UFC and made a bonus and everything. The second time when I won (against him) he defied and came back like a champ.”
With the win, Pantoja extends his winning streak to two. In February, Pantoja defeated former RIZIN champ Manel Kape via unanimous decision. Since May 2018, Pantoja has accumulated a 6-2 record with his losses coming against Deiveson Figueiredo and Askar Askarov.
As for Royval, the loss is his second straight. At UFC 255 in November, Royval lost to Moreno via TKO after he suffered a shoulder injury and faced subsequent unanswered strikes. The defeat ended an undefeated 2020 run which included back-to-back victories over Tim Elliott and Kai Kara-France to kick off his UFC tenure.
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 29 odds and lines between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.
In a flyweight bout on the main card, Alexandre Pantoja faces Brandon Royval Saturday at UFC on ESPN 29 – also known as UFC Vegas 34 – at the UFC’s APEX Facility. The prelims will be televised on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card will be televised on ESPN/ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the UFC on ESPN 29 Pantoja vs. Royval odds and lines, with MMA picks and predictions.
Pantoja, a.k.a. “The Cannibal”, has alternated wins and losses across the past five fights. He is coming off a unanimous-decision win over Manel Kape last time out on Feb. 6, and three of his past four bouts have gone the distance.
Royval won his first two fights at the UFC level by submission, but he was stopped at 4:59 of the first period a UFC 255 via KO/TKO against Brandon Moreno Nov. 21.
ROYVAL (+140) is a good play as a moderate underdog. He has won seven of his past nine professional bouts, and each of the past five fights have finished inside the distance. Pantoja (-180) has been spinning his wheels lately going just 2-2 across the past four outings. Royval is the much better value.
The lean is to UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (+120) at plus-money as Royval has five consecutive finishes. While Pantoja has gone the distance in three of the past four outings, you can expect the Brazilian flyweight to be pushed early and often by Royval. NO (-110): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is also a strong play.
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In the main event, [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] (17-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) at middleweight. Cannonier is a slight betting favorite at Tipico around -150, and he has a 9-4 lead in the picks from our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-feature, longtime fighter [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag] (36-20 MMA, 16-14 UFC) meets [autotag]Mark Madsen[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC). Madsen is a -170 favorite, and he’s one of two unanimous picks from our staff members on the main card.
[autotag]Parker Porter[/autotag] (11-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 3-6 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. Sherman is a 2-1 favorite and has a big 12-1 lead in the picks.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets short-notice replacement and UFC newcomer [autotag]Saidyokub Kakhramonov[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at bantamweight. Jones is the favorite at -145 and has a 9-4 lead in the picks.
Our other unanimous pick on the main card is [autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a lightweight bout against [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC). It’s virtually a pick’em fight with Pichel at -115 and Hubbard at -110, but Pichel pitched a shutout in our picks at 13-0.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a key flyweight bout. Pantoja is favored at the betting window at -180, and he’s got a 9-4 edge in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Kharitonov (57 percent), Storley (90 percent), Golm (55 percent) and Lugo (64 percent) are the choices.
