With Islam Makhachev reportedly vacating the lightweight title to pursue welterweight opportunities, UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja now holds the distinction of having the most active title defenses. However, fellow fighter Muhammad Mokaev believes Pantoja should not follow Makhachev`s example by moving up in weight.
Pantoja has successfully defended his flyweight belt three times since winning it from Brandon Moreno in 2023, securing victories over Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and Kai Asakura. He is scheduled for his fourth defense on June 28 during International Fight Week at UFC 317, facing Kai Kara-France, whom he previously defeated on The Ultimate Fighter in 2016.
Despite Pantoja`s success, Mokaev advises him against moving to the bantamweight division to challenge Merab Dvalishvili, instead recommending he concentrate on enhancing his legacy at 125 pounds.
According to Mokaev, discussions suggesting Pantoja should face Merab are misguided. He stated, “He’s not big enough to fight Merab, size-wise. I would say myself, I’m not a big [enough] flyweight to fight Merab. Merab is strong for bantamweight, very strong.” Mokaev emphasized this is a realistic assessment, not criticism of Pantoja, noting that even he, Mokaev, might struggle with Merab`s size.
“Merab is a big guy,” Mokaev continued. “Like, even [Deiveson] Figueiredo, biggest flyweight, he struggled in 135. Pantoja is smaller than Figueiredo.” He firmly believes Pantoja`s best path is to remain at flyweight to build a lasting legacy rather than attempting a jump to a heavier division, which would also require significant time and effort to gain weight.
Mokaev, who is preparing to fight Thomas Assis on short notice at 971 FC 2 in Dubai, spoke highly of his relationship with Pantoja. He shared that during his initial period at American Top Team in Florida, Pantoja was supportive. Mokaev eventually chose to leave the gym to avoid potential conflicts with teammates like Pantoja and Kyoji Horiguchi, who compete in the lighter weight classes.
“I love Pantoja, he’s a really great guy outside of [the] octagon, inside of [the] octagon,” Mokaev said, adding that Pantoja looked out for him at ATT. He explained his departure by saying, “The only reason I never went back to American Top Team because that’s his home. And once I entered the world rankings, I didn’t want to [make] him uncomfortable. That’s his home.”
Undefeated in his seven UFC fights before his release, Mokaev aims to return to the promotion by securing wins outside it. He addressed the narrative suggesting he was “hard to work with,” reflecting positively on his training experiences, particularly with Pantoja and Horiguchi.
Comparing their styles based on their rolls, Mokaev considers Horiguchi “the strongest flyweight right now,” noting his distinct approach. He described Horiguchi as hard to control, quick, like a sprinter with explosive legs typical of Japanese fighters. In contrast, he sees Pantoja as excellent on the ground, highlighting their “very, very close” rolls during training. He likened Pantoja`s style to a marathon runner, using slow momentum to wear opponents down.
Kyoji Horiguchi recently withdrew from a scheduled UFC fight and has competed successfully in RIZIN and Bellator. Mokaev acknowledged that Horiguchi could potentially earn a title shot against Pantoja upon his return to the UFC but playfully refused to predict a winner between them.
“Brother, you make me trouble now,” Mokaev joked, envisioning a humorous scenario where both fighters might confront him at American Top Team if he chose a side. He described their styles again, noting Pantoja`s aggressive, pressuring approach (“go like a dog”) versus Horiguchi`s difficulty to hit due to being “very springy, moving really good.”
In closing, Mokaev expressed confidence in his own future while suggesting that Pantoja, having secured several title defenses and built his legacy, might soon consider moving on from the flyweight division, perhaps hinting at his own aspirations in the weight class.
