LAS VEGAS – “Like a GOAT.”
As Alexandre Pantoja grabbed maintain of the microphone throughout his UFC 310 post-fight information convention Saturday at T-Cellular Enviornment, these are the primary phrases that have been out of his mouth.
Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) admits it’s been a studying curve to construct his legacy and, extra so, his model. However after he slept Kai Asakura (21-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in Saturday’s primary occasion, his callout was prepared – and it stunned lots of people.
“I really feel I’m tied with extra victories in that division,” Pantoja informed MMA Junkie and different reporters. “Then, I discovered possibly that’s why I talked about Demetrious Johnson. I’m sorry if I’m incorrect to say about that. All my respect for him, however I’m sorry once more. I did that. I cleaned the division. I beat the No. 1, the No. 2 a number of instances. The UFC carry me one other man, one other champ for all the world over. I completed him. That’s the struggle that is sensible for me. The flyweight is so completely different proper now. The time that Demetrious Johnson struggle, it was not like that. My final 4 fights, I fought with a Mexican, Australian, American, and Japanese. Issues change.
“You’ve gotten all the great fighters all the world over. Occasions like now are so exhausting to maintain this belt. Proper now, in instances like that, I don’t know. Do me and Makhachev have three title defenses within the octagon proper now. However that’s robust instances proper now. It’s not like earlier than. However all my respect to Demetrious Johnson. I respect him. I like him as a result of he opens all of the doorways for us. However that struggle is what I need. For those who say it to me, ‘What would you like for Christmas?’ That’s what I need.”
Pantoja’s callout didn’t fall on deaf ears. Johnson (25-4-1) rapidly responded indicating he doesn’t have plans to return to combating.
“Guys I bought supplied 2 million {dollars} to struggle!!” Johnson wrote on X. “I turned it down I don’t care to struggle anymore YouTube video dropping quickly”
Johnson, 38, retired in early September and has not competed since Could 2023. It’s unclear if he’s nonetheless contractually tied to ONE Championship.
However Pantoja thinks Johnson’s tweet may miss his level. It’s not about cash for Pantoja, however slightly additional constructing his legacy – one thing Johnson may probably do with a return struggle, as effectively.
“That’s loopy as a result of it’s not in regards to the cash,” Pantoja mentioned. “I don’t struggle extra for cash. I struggle to show myself. I’m one of the best of one of the best. I feel all people has to try this. After all, you want your payments. You need to pay your mortgages and all the pieces. We’re right here to determine who’s one of the best of one of the best. That’s what I did tonight. I’m tremendous glad UFC gave me cash to defend this belt. I pays my payments. I can put my children in a superb place.
“I don’t struggle for simply cash. Demetrious Johnson is just not about cash. It’s about to see who’s one of the best of one of the best. I simply say that as a result of I see he’s retired. I don’t find out about his contract any extra. I don’t know he have one thing (the place) he can’t come to UFC any extra, nevertheless it’s not about cash, brother. It’s about legacy. It’s about to see who’s one of the best.
“That’s how I reside. That’s why I get up each day – to attempt to be one of the best.”
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