Pantoja insists arm injury — not Van — cost him the flyweight title ahead of UFC 331 rematch

Alexandre Pantoja is pushing back on how his flyweight title loss to Joshua Van is being remembered, insisting the injury he suffered early in their December bout — not Van’s dominance — defined the result. The former UFC flyweight champion faces Van in a rematch at UFC 331 on 19 September in Los Angeles, with the belt on the line.

“He not beat me, you know?” Pantoja said in a recent interview. “I know like an athlete, I lose the fight, I know I lose my belt, I’m not my champion anymore, but it’s not someone beat me.”

Pantoja suffered an arm injury in the opening stages of their first meeting and has spent the months since focused on recovery and preparing for his Octagon return. He believes that context is being stripped from the public narrative around the defeat.

The Brazilian also pointed to the broader body of work he has built at 125 pounds as evidence that he deserves more credit than he feels he receives. He noted that he has faced much of the flyweight division’s elite, beaten some opponents three times, and put together an eight-fight winning streak before dropping the title.

“I fight with the best fighters in my division,” Pantoja said. “I fight with the whole Top 10, I beat some guys three times and I have eight wins in a row, you know, with the best fighters.”

Despite his frustration with the lack of recognition, Pantoja said the perception of others will not alter his mindset or preparation.

“I don’t have a lot to recognize, you know, but for me that’s okay,” he said. “What I want is to be the best fighter in the world. I try to be that guy every day in my life, because I’m training very hard. Joshua Van can be sure, I want that fight more than ever.”

The rematch at UFC 331 gives Pantoja the chance to settle the debate inside the Octagon and reclaim the title he held through one of the most active championship reigns in recent flyweight history.