TORONTO – Alexandre Pantoja is more focused on the location of his next fight than who he will be defending his UFC flyweight title against.
After logging his first defense of the belt with a unanimous decision win over Brandon Royval at UFC 296 in December, Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) is targeting a return to the octagon at what is expected to be UFC 301 on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, according to his head coach Marcos “Parrumpa” DaMatta of American Top Team.
“He’s back training – he wants to defend his title in Rio in May,” DaMatta told MMA Junkie. “That’s something that we’re really asking the UFC and his managers to make it happen, because it means a lot to him. It’s the first time that he’s going to fight in Rio de Janeiro. He even said that to me, ‘I’ve fought everywhere. I’ve fought in Korea. I’ve fought in the United States, Abu Dhabi, Europe – I’ve never said no to any fight, please just let me defend with my people.'”
