‘I go to kill’ – Alexandre Pantoja responds to Kai Asakura with shocking UFC 310 plan and names Alex Pereira as P4P King
Alexandre Pantoja is gearing up for UFC 310 with a deadly plan in mind. Pantoja meets Japan’s Kai Asakura in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 7 for the main event of UFC 310. GettyPantoja puts his belt on the line for the third time at UFC 310 on December 7[/caption] The UFC flyweight champion displays a soft-spoken exterior, but behind that lies the mindset of a killer. Despite his calm and approachable demeanor, ‘The Cannibal’ is a relentless competitor, who only ever has one goal in mind every time he competes in the UFC. “I go to the octagon to kill my opponent,” the Brazilian said in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com via Stake, rocking a new shaved hair style he names the ‘bad boy from Copacabana’. “That’s my intention, you know. This isn’t just a sport for me – it was a sport before, but then octagon door locks, everything changes. “That’s when real life begins for me. That’s when the real life starts. That’s when I feel free.” Pantoja, 34, defends his flyweight title for the third consecutive time in unusual circumstances on December 7 in Las Vegas. His opponent, Asakura, is a former Rizin—Japanese MMA promotion—champion, who is making his UFC debut contesting for championship gold. The 31-year-old said in an interview that it would be ‘good for business’ in the UFC should he dethrone Pantoja, who was respectful with his response. “It’s a great opportunity for him. Both guys have a 50 per cent chance,” Pantoja added. “Me and Asakura have one hand on the belt right now and on December 7 someone will want to put two hands on it. Pantoja won the 125 lbs strap by defeating Brandon Moreno after five roundsGetty It was deemed by thousands as was one of the best flyweight bouts of all timeGetty “We need to be popular in Japan too, it’s huge for MMA. I hope UFC can go to Japan and I can fight in the Saitama Super Arena – that would be my dream.” UFC 310 was originally scheduled to be headlined by Belal Muhammad defending his welterweight strap against Shavkat Rakhmonov. But Muhammad, who won the belt against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester, was forced to pull out due to a nasty bone infection. This meant Pantoja’s bout was bumped up to headline status and Rakhmonov now challenges Ireland’s Ian Garry in the co-main event. “I’m feeling complete and ready, like 120 per cent,” Pantoja added. “I’m really excited for the main event in Las Vegas – it’s such a huge opportunity for me. “I’m super glad that, after Belal Muhammad was scheduled for the title but then left, the UFC has now secured my name in the main event. GettyPatonja’s bout was moved up to main event status after Belal Muhammad’s injury[/caption] “I was in the main event for my last fight in Rio, Brazil, [for UFC 301], but I think It’s different when you go to Las Vegas and you have the fight of the night. “You have the main event and it’s huge for me. I feel complete. Like I said, I feel complete to make that fight.” ‘The Cannibal’ won UFC gold for the first time by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023. The fight was deemed by numerous MMA fans as one of the best flyweight fights ever, as both men went endured war in an epic world championship fight. After Bruce Buffer announced Pantoja’s split decision victory, he dropped to the canvas in disbelief, before delivering an emotional post-fight octagon interview that plucked the heartstrings of the world. “My mum took care of me and two of my brothers alone,” he told UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Pantoja recovered from a nasty elbow to beat Erceg in his last boutGetty He cites his family as one the biggest driving factors in his fighting careerGetty “Now dad, are you proud of me dad? Are you proud of me?” Pantoja has since defended his flyweight belt against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 and Steve Erceg last May, winning both by unanimous decision. His last outing against Erceg was a bloody affair, during which Pantoja was on the receiving end of a nasty elbow that split him open. But his championship mindset enabled him to carry on in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro and earn the victory. For Pantoja, however, fighting is far more than gold and glory. “My goal is always to provide for my family,” Pantoja said. “In the beginning, you start for yourself, but then I got married, found my love, found my wife and she gave me two babies. “My kids are the best gift I ever had in life and I live to see them grow up.” Although he doesn’t admit it, ‘The Cannibal’ is the best flyweight in the world right now. He’s also ranked as the 11th best fighter on the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings. Pantoja has come a long way since working for UberEats in 2021, earning $100 the weekend before he secured a $50,000 bonus against Royval in the pair’s first bout. “Pound-for-pound is something people maybe think about as just a ra
Alexandre Pantoja is gearing up for UFC 310 with a deadly plan in mind.
Pantoja meets Japan’s Kai Asakura in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 7 for the main event of UFC 310.
The UFC flyweight champion displays a soft-spoken exterior, but behind that lies the mindset of a killer.
Despite his calm and approachable demeanor, ‘The Cannibal’ is a relentless competitor, who only ever has one goal in mind every time he competes in the UFC.
“I go to the octagon to kill my opponent,” the Brazilian said in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com via Stake, rocking a new shaved hair style he names the ‘bad boy from Copacabana’.
“That’s my intention, you know. This isn’t just a sport for me – it was a sport before, but then octagon door locks, everything changes.
“That’s when real life begins for me. That’s when the real life starts. That’s when I feel free.”
Pantoja, 34, defends his flyweight title for the third consecutive time in unusual circumstances on December 7 in Las Vegas.
His opponent, Asakura, is a former Rizin—Japanese MMA promotion—champion, who is making his UFC debut contesting for championship gold.
The 31-year-old said in an interview that it would be ‘good for business’ in the UFC should he dethrone Pantoja, who was respectful with his response.
“It’s a great opportunity for him. Both guys have a 50 per cent chance,” Pantoja added.
“Me and Asakura have one hand on the belt right now and on December 7 someone will want to put two hands on it.
“We need to be popular in Japan too, it’s huge for MMA. I hope UFC can go to Japan and I can fight in the Saitama Super Arena – that would be my dream.”
UFC 310 was originally scheduled to be headlined by Belal Muhammad defending his welterweight strap against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
But Muhammad, who won the belt against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester, was forced to pull out due to a nasty bone infection.
This meant Pantoja’s bout was bumped up to headline status and Rakhmonov now challenges Ireland’s Ian Garry in the co-main event.
“I’m feeling complete and ready, like 120 per cent,” Pantoja added. “I’m really excited for the main event in Las Vegas – it’s such a huge opportunity for me.
“I’m super glad that, after Belal Muhammad was scheduled for the title but then left, the UFC has now secured my name in the main event.
“I was in the main event for my last fight in Rio, Brazil, [for UFC 301], but I think It’s different when you go to Las Vegas and you have the fight of the night.
“You have the main event and it’s huge for me. I feel complete. Like I said, I feel complete to make that fight.”
‘The Cannibal’ won UFC gold for the first time by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023.
The fight was deemed by numerous MMA fans as one of the best flyweight fights ever, as both men went endured war in an epic world championship fight.
After Bruce Buffer announced Pantoja’s split decision victory, he dropped to the canvas in disbelief, before delivering an emotional post-fight octagon interview that plucked the heartstrings of the world.
“My mum took care of me and two of my brothers alone,” he told UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
“Now dad, are you proud of me dad? Are you proud of me?”
Pantoja has since defended his flyweight belt against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 and Steve Erceg last May, winning both by unanimous decision.
His last outing against Erceg was a bloody affair, during which Pantoja was on the receiving end of a nasty elbow that split him open.
But his championship mindset enabled him to carry on in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro and earn the victory.
For Pantoja, however, fighting is far more than gold and glory.
“My goal is always to provide for my family,” Pantoja said. “In the beginning, you start for yourself, but then I got married, found my love, found my wife and she gave me two babies.
“My kids are the best gift I ever had in life and I live to see them grow up.”
Although he doesn’t admit it, ‘The Cannibal’ is the best flyweight in the world right now. He’s also ranked as the 11th best fighter on the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
Pantoja has come a long way since working for UberEats in 2021, earning $100 the weekend before he secured a $50,000 bonus against Royval in the pair’s first bout.
“Pound-for-pound is something people maybe think about as just a ranking, but for the fighters you 100 per cent want to be the number one fighter in the world,” Pantoja added.
“December 7 is going to be a huge opportunity to show I deserve a much better position.
“I want to prove to everybody that I am phenomenal when they watch my fight.
“Right now, I think it’s Alex Pereira [No.1 P4P]. Three fights for the belt and three knockouts. You know what I’m saying?
“It’s very hard to be the best fighter in the world all the time. I don’t think I’m the best flyweight right now. I want to prove that on December 7.
“But on December 8, maybe I’m not the best. I say that because when I win the belt and I’m back in the gym, my training partners and all the guys finish me.
“And I think, I’m not the champion of the world anymore, I need more training.”
As humble as he is, Pantoja remains one of the world’s best fighters, and with a nickname like ‘The Cannibal’ and the mindset of a killer, It’s easy to see why.
When asked about the origins of his nickname, Pantoja thankfully explained that he’s not really a fan of eating other people and that we may see a change to the label in the future.
“Maybe my nickname is going to change to ‘Killer’, because that’s my mindset, that’s what I think.
“When I go to the octagon, It’s for me to kill my opponent, like I don’t care.
“I say that’s something primitive…but on December 7, I don’t just want to be ‘The Cannibal’, I want to be the great Alexandre Pantoja.”
