MMA fighter Alexandre Pantoja, known for his unique approach to rear-naked chokes, will defend his 125-pound title at UFC 296 against Brandon Royval, a rematch of a bout Pantoja won with the same technique in 2021.
Alexandre Pantoja is a name that rings a bell in MMA, thanks to his unique approach to rear-naked chokes. This technique has brought him seven out of his ten submission wins, plus one neck crank. Pantoja is so comfortable attacking from his opponent’s backs, he does it with his eyes closed.
This Saturday at UFC 296, Pantoja is defending his 125-pound title. His opponent is Brandon Royval, whom he previously defeated in 2021 with a rear-naked choke. Pantoja described that victory as “a work of art,” as he hunted for the fight-ending sequence without opening his eyes.
Pantoja, during an interview on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast, shared his thoughts. “I don’t know if I have to train more armbars and triangle chokes or something else,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s more of me wanting to take the back all the time and seeing it as an easy position for me.”
He went on to explain his unusual technique. “The UFC posted a video not that long ago and I saw that I had my eyes closed in every submission. I usually do this move with my eyes closed because I already know where to go, and when I close my eyes my senses are more keen to do this move, you know? It’s natural.”
Pantoja has been practicing jiu-jitsu for a long time. He says that when he’s on the back, he closes his eyes to feel every single muscle of his opponent moving. He already knows where to go. “Seeing things really does more harm than good. I think it’s pretty natural, really.”
Pantoja attributes his evolution as a grappler to his training partners Jussier Formiga, Kyoji Horiguchi, Adriano Moraes, and others from American Top Team, plus head coach Marcos Parrumpa. He’s been in the MMA for 15 years now.
“But I also want to look out for more standup fights, you know?” Pantoja added. “I’ve been training that a lot. I wasn’t able to show that [against Brandon Moreno] because I was so anxious for that moment. I’m fighting smarter now, calmer. If I have to go for it, my heart will always be there, but I see myself putting on a clean fight [against Royval].”
Pantoja gives credit to his challenger for evolving since their first match. Royval has gone 3-0 since that loss, defeating Rogerio Bontorin, Matt Schnell, and Matheus Nicolau, and pocketing a pair of bonus for first-round finishes of the latter two.
Pantoja himself has also won bonuses for his past three victories. He owns a total of five post-fight bonuses over his most recent seven octagon appearances.
“Him beating Matheus Nicolau really shows us we have to be alert against him,” Pantoja said, “to beat such a tough guy the way he did. Being on a three-fight winning streak really changed something in him. I’ve also learned a lot from my losses. That’s what a champion is made of. When a guy goes down and feels that pain and what he does from there, if he puts it behind him and continues to move forward, that says a lot.”
“I expect an incredible fight, a war,” Pantoja added.
While six new UFC champions have been crowned in 2023, Pantoja is the only one putting his title on the line before the end of the year. As for 2024, he’s down for three more bouts.
“When they gave me the date, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to take it,” Pantoja said. “I have no time to waste. I’m an old-school guy, I have many scars from past wars, so I have to enjoy my moment. I really feel in my prime and I’ll put on a beautiful fight. If God gives me the win, I plan on fighting again in March or April.”