Demetrious Johnson Reacts to Alexandre Pantoja’s Injury at UFC 323
UFC legend Demetrious Johnson recently shared his thoughts on Alexandre Pantoja’s unfortunate injury at UFC 323, which led to Joshua Van being declared the new UFC flyweight champion. The co-main event of the evening took an unexpected turn when Pantoja suffered a nasty arm injury in the opening exchanges, rendering him unable to continue the fight.
As a former UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson understands the risks and challenges that come with competing at the highest level. In a recent video on his channel, Johnson reacted to the incident, stating, “That’s part of the game, guys. To keep going in, and doing it over and over, time and time again, over and over and over, it’s hard. It’s a sport where anything can f*cking happen.” Johnson’s comments highlight the unpredictable nature of mixed martial arts and the importance of being prepared for any eventuality.
Johnson’s Assessment of Pantoja’s Chances
Johnson also shared his thoughts on Pantoja’s potential to break his record of 11 consecutive title defenses. “I truly felt that Alex Pantoja was going to be able to break my 11 consecutive title defenses,” Johnson said. “Even though he was only at five — he still had six or seven more to go — but I didn’t see anybody on the rise that was going to give him a challenge.” Johnson’s comments suggest that he had high regard for Pantoja’s skills and believed he had the potential to dominate the flyweight division.
However, with Pantoja’s injury and subsequent loss of the title, Johnson notes that the clock starts all over again. “Granted, Alex Pantoja is 35 years old, and now that he has lost the belt, that clock starts all over, baby! [Smiling]” Johnson’s comments imply that Pantoja’s age and injury may impact his ability to regain the title, but it’s not impossible.
Consistency and Dominance in MMA
Johnson also reflected on his own career, highlighting the challenges of maintaining consistency and dominance in the sport. “All I’ve got to say is, when you think about trying to be consistent in MMA, whether I was ahead of my time, or I was just that f*cking good, or everybody just sucked, as you guys said, showing up 11 consecutive times, on weight, passing every single drug test, and being dominant, and continuing to get better, throwing the Mighty Whizbar, and the flying knee, and all that stuff, it just shows you how hard it is to do,” Johnson said. Johnson’s comments emphasize the dedication, hard work, and resilience required to succeed at the highest level in MMA.
As for whether Pantoja and Van will face each other again, only time will tell. According to MMA Fighting, the future of the flyweight division is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the competition is fierce, and only the best will rise to the top. Will Pantoja be able to recover and reclaim his title? Fans will have to wait and see.
