Pantoja calls injury loss to Van a 'gift from God' ahead of UFC 331 rematch

Alexandre Pantoja says losing the UFC flyweight title to Joshua Van on an injury 26 seconds into their December bout has ultimately made him a better fighter, with the Brazilian heading into their UFC 331 rematch with renewed focus and what he describes as a gift from above.

Pantoja suffered the injury when Van caught his kick and forced him backwards, causing the then-champion to use his arm as a frame as he crashed to the canvas. The abrupt, anticlimactic end to his title reign initially troubled Pantoja, but he has since shifted his perspective entirely.

“I feel like this was such a great gift from God, to allow me to lose like that and come back to have this opportunity to go again and get the championship back,” Pantoja said. “I am a very fast learner and I really understood what I had to do. I’ve been training much better now. I have a better diet, I try to sleep better and I have good people working with me. That allows me to focus much more.”

Pantoja also suggested the mental reset came quickly. “I think after these 20 minutes, I’m already over it and focused on what I have to do to get back,” he added.

The tone surrounding the rematch is notably different from the first encounter. Where the two fighters shared a cordial relationship heading into their initial clash, bad blood has since developed between Pantoja and Van ahead of UFC 331, adding an extra layer of stakes to what is already a title fight with a score to settle.