UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t see a clear-cut contender for his first title defense.
Pantoja (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) dethroned Brandon Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) to claim the flyweight title in this past Saturday’s UFC 290 co-main event. Weighing in as a backup for their fight was Brandon Royval, whom Pantoja submitted in August 2021.
Also recently emerging as a top contender was Amir Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who edged out Kai Kara-France (24-11 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 45 main event in June. However, Pantoja doesn’t think anyone has quite earned the title shot yet. He suggests Albazi fight Royval to determine the No. 1 contender.