Alexandre Pantoja, the reigning UFC flyweight champion, has reignited the discussion about his past sparring session with Sean O’Malley, claiming that he dominated O’Malley so thoroughly that O’Malley refused to share the footage.
Pantoja asserts that the session occurred around six years ago, preceding his first UFC fight, and alleges that O’Malley chose not to provide him with the video evidence, purportedly because Pantoja “smashed him” during the sparring match.
Pantoja’s narrative diverges from O’Malley’s previous accounts of their sparring encounter, adding fuel to the ongoing debate between the two fighters regarding what truly transpired during their training session. Pantoja’s recent remarks, made in the buildup to his flyweight title defense at UFC 301, emphasize his perspective on the matter, portraying himself as the dominant force in the sparring exchange.
Despite the brewing controversy surrounding their past sparring, Pantoja remains focused on his immediate career goals within the flyweight division. He dismisses the notion of moving up to the bantamweight class, highlighting his commitment to defending his flyweight title and pursuing significant matchups in his current weight category.
Pantoja expresses his prioritization of challenges within the flyweight division, citing potential opponents and his role as the reigning champion as motivating factors that deter him from considering a move to bantamweight. He underscores his status as the flyweight champion and alludes to the rich pool of contenders awaiting him in his current weight class.
Looking ahead, Pantoja outlines his plans following his UFC 301 title defense, expressing his intent to face Muhammad Mokaev in his next bout if he emerges victorious against Steve Erceg. With an impressive record and a recent string of victories, Pantoja enters his title defense with confidence, poised to solidify his status as one of the top competitors in the UFC flyweight division.
