Alexandre Pantoja Bio
Alexandre Pantoja Passidomo (born April 16, 1990) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Nicknamed “The Cannibal,” he is widely regarded as one of the greatest flyweights of all time. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Pantoja has built a career around grappling, pressure, and relentless pace since turning professional in 2007.
Pantoja captured the UFC Flyweight Championship by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, and went on to defend the title four consecutive times. He holds multiple UFC flyweight division records, including the most wins, most submissions, and most finishes, and was the first male UFC flyweight to win a title fight at age 35 or older. He trains out of Coconut Creek, Florida, with American Top Team.
Early Life and Background
Alexandre Pantoja Passidomo was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is the youngest of three children. His mother, Ester Pantoja, was adopted as a child because her biological parents could not afford to raise her, and the Pantoja surname was inherited from her adoptive family. Pantoja has carried the family name with pride throughout his mixed martial arts career.
During his childhood, Pantoja experienced his parents’ separation, after which his father left home. He was raised primarily by his mother and was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 11 through his stepfather, Moraes, beginning his training at the academy of renowned master Osvaldo Alves in Copacabana. At 12, he moved with his family to Arraial do Cabo, where he began training with peers his own age for the first time, having previously only worked with older athletes.
After his relationship with his stepfather deteriorated due to alcohol-related problems, Pantoja moved to Bahia to live with his father. He continued training jiu-jitsu and began teaching the discipline at just 15 years old, while also winning his first state title in the gentle art. Back in Arraial do Cabo, he entered a jiu-jitsu championship held inside a ring, where he first encountered muay thai. Fascinated, he began training under master Helbert Reis and piled up victories before transitioning to mixed martial arts because muay thai offered little financial return.
Path to MMA
Pantoja made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 17 in 2007, settling into the flyweight division from the start. He spent his early years competing on the regional Brazilian circuit, building a foundation grounded in jiu-jitsu and shaped by his growing muay thai game. The combination of grappling pedigree and striking development made him a dangerous and well-rounded prospect.
His progression through the ranks caught the attention of major promotions, and in 2016, Pantoja was selected as one of 16 flyweight champion contestants from organizations around the world for The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions. Coached by Henry Cejudo, Pantoja entered the reality show ranked first on Team Cejudo and was matched against Brandon Moreno in his first fight.
Pantoja defeated Moreno by submission in the second round, advanced past Kai Kara-France by unanimous decision in the quarterfinals, and was then eliminated in the semifinals by Hiromasa Ougikubo by unanimous decision. Although he did not win the tournament, Pantoja’s performances earned him a UFC contract and launched his career on the sport’s biggest stage.
Alexandre Pantoja Career
Early UFC Career (2017–2019)
Pantoja made his official UFC debut on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox 23 against Eric Shelton, winning by split decision. He followed that with a third-round submission of Neil Seery at UFC Fight Night 113, then suffered his first promotional loss to Dustin Ortiz at UFC 220 in January 2018. He bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 129 and a first-round rear-naked choke finish of Ulka Sasaki at UFC Fight Night 140.
At UFC 236 in April 2019, Pantoja stopped Wilson Reis by first-round TKO, then fought Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 240 in a bout that earned the Fight of the Night award, though he lost by unanimous decision. Closing 2019, he knocked out Matt Schnell in the first round at UFC Fight Night 165, picking up his first Performance of the Night bonus and establishing himself as a rising contender in the flyweight division.
Title Contender Era (2020–2022)
In July 2020, Pantoja dropped a unanimous decision to Askar Askarov at UFC Fight Night 172, then was forced out of a December 2020 booking with Manel Kape due to COVID-19 symptoms. The two finally met at UFC Fight Night 184 in February 2021, with Pantoja winning by unanimous decision. He then submitted Brandon Royval via rear-naked choke in the second round at UFC on ESPN 29 in August 2021, earning another Performance of the Night award, but a knee injury kept him out of a scheduled shot at the flyweight title.
Pantoja returned at UFC 277 in July 2022, submitting Alex Perez with a first-round neck crank to claim his third Performance of the Night bonus. The win cemented his place at the top of the division and set up a championship opportunity against the man he had already beaten once, Brandon Moreno.
UFC Flyweight Championship (2023–Present)
Pantoja challenged Brandon Moreno for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, and won the title by split decision in a Fight of the Night performance. He made his first title defense against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 in December 2023, winning by unanimous decision, and followed that with another successful defense against Steve Erceg by unanimous decision at UFC 301 in May 2024.
At UFC 310 in December 2024, Pantoja submitted promotional newcomer Kai Asakura in the second round with a rear-naked choke to record his third title defense and another Performance of the Night bonus. He was then booked against Kai Kara-France in a defense originally scheduled for April 2025, with the bout rescheduled to June 28, 2025, at UFC 317, where Pantoja won by third-round rear-naked choke submission. With the victory, he became the record holder for the most wins, submission victories, and overall finishes in UFC Flyweight division history.
Fifth Title Defense and Title Loss (2025)
Pantoja attempted his fifth title defense against Joshua Van at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, but lost the championship in the first round by technical knockout after an awkward fall resulted in an arm injury. The loss ended a long reign atop the flyweight division but did little to diminish his legacy as one of the most accomplished champions the weight class has ever seen.
Style and Strengths
Pantoja is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt whose game is built around pressure, top control, and high-volume submission threats. He pairs those grappling skills with improving muay thai, particularly sharp clinch work and dangerous elbows. His relentless cardio and pace allow him to push top opponents deep into championship rounds, where his technique and composure often take over.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Pantoja’s split-decision win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 to claim the flyweight title stands as the defining victory of his career. He followed that with four consecutive title defenses, multiple Performance of the Night bonuses, and record-breaking marks in the flyweight division. His championship reign, his age-defying title win at 33, and his division record book have already secured his place among the all-time greats at 125 pounds.
Alexandre Pantoja Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Pantoja is married and has two sons. After winning the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 290, he used his post-fight interview to address his father, who had left the family during his childhood, and asked whether he was proud of him now. The moment offered a public window into the difficult family background that shaped his journey to the top of the sport.
He is also a brand ambassador for the UFC, alongside fellow fighters Diego Lopes and Valter Walker, as part of a multi-year partnership between the promotion and Spribe. Pantoja lives in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he trains out of American Top Team, the gym he has called home since 2018 after spending his formative years training at Black House in Brazil.
2025 Season Performance
Pantoja’s 2025 campaign was defined by a record-breaking title defense and an abrupt, injury-marred ending to his reign. In June 2025, he submitted Kai Kara-France in the third round at UFC 317 to set new UFC Flyweight marks for most wins, most submissions, and most finishes, capping an eight-fight win streak that had spanned nearly two years.
Heading into the final stretch of the year, Pantoja was widely viewed as the face of the flyweight division and a fixture in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. His planned fifth defense at UFC 323 in December ended in first-round disappointment, however, when an awkward fall led to an arm injury and a technical knockout loss to Joshua Van, costing him the championship.
Despite the late setback, the year reinforced Pantoja’s status as one of the most accomplished flyweights in UFC history. With multiple record books to his name, a long list of post-fight bonuses, and a clear blueprint for a potential comeback, his 2025 story remains a defining chapter in the modern history of the 125-pound division.
