UFC"The Cannibal" | Rank 1

Alexandre Pantoja Record: 30-6-0

Record30-6-0

Age36

DivisionFlyweight · #1

Combat Edge Elo1808

Next fightSep 19 2026

Alexandre Pantoja has a 30-6-0 professional record and is 36 years old in the Flyweight division, representing American Top Team (1718 average active-roster Elo across 45 rated fighters). This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.

Last updated Aug 6, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database

Alexandre Pantoja bio

Personal background

Alexandre Pantoja is a Brazilian flyweight and former UFC Flyweight Champion who fights as "The Cannibal" and owns a 30-6 professional record. Born April 16, 1990, in Rio de Janeiro and raised partly in the coastal town of Arraial do Cabo, he began Brazilian jiu-jitsu around age 11 through his stepfather's influence, training in Copacabana before adding Muay Thai and boxing to round out his game. A BJJ black belt, he fights out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Standing 5'5" with a 67" reach, his nickname captures a relentless, finish-hunting style – he aims to "devour" opponents rather than coast to the scorecards.

Path to the UFC

Pantoja turned professional in 2012 and built a strong record on the Brazilian and U.S. regional circuits, including a 2015 triangle-choke submission of veteran Damacio Page. He earned wider attention on The Ultimate Fighter Season 24 in 2016, where he submitted future rival Brandon Moreno and beat Kai Kara-France before falling in the tournament. He opened his official UFC run with a split-decision win over Eric Shelton in 2017 and a rear-naked choke of Neil Seery.

Climbing the division

After a 2018 decision loss to Dustin Ortiz, Pantoja rattled off signature wins: a 2018 decision over Moreno, a first-round rear-naked choke of Ulka Sasaki, and a 2019 first-round TKO of former title challenger Wilson Reis. A decision loss to Deiveson Figueiredo and a 2020 setback against Askar Askarov were the speed bumps, but he answered with wins over Manel Kape, Brandon Royval and a first-round submission of Alex Perez at UFC 277 to earn his title shot.

Flyweight championship reign

At UFC 290 in July 2023, Pantoja captured the UFC Flyweight Championship with a split-decision win over Brandon Moreno, completing a trilogy that had defined his career. He defended the belt four times: a unanimous decision over Brandon Royval at UFC 296, a unanimous decision over Steve Erceg at UFC 301, a second-round rear-naked choke of Kai Asakura at UFC 310, and a third-round rear-naked choke of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 in June 2025. The reign ended at UFC 323 in December 2025, where he lost the title to Joshua Van by first-round TKO due to an arm injury.

Fighting style

Pantoja is one of the most complete flyweights of his era, a grappling-first pressure fighter whose 12 submissions and eight knockouts among 30 wins produce a 67% finish rate. His chain wrestling and back-take game make his rear-naked choke a constant threat – the finish that ended Asakura and Kara-France – while his cardio and volume let him grind out championship rounds, as his three five-round decision wins show. The honest caveat is that five of his six losses came by decision against elite movement and length, and the title finally changed hands on an injury stoppage. Even so, his blend of pace, finishing instinct and toughness defined a dominant title run.

Career highlights

UFC Flyweight Champion — defeated Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 to win the title and defended it four times before losing it at UFC 323.
Elite submission game — 12 career submissions, including title-defense rear-naked chokes of Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France.
67% finish rate — 20 finishes across 30 wins, among the most prolific in flyweight history.

Career snapshot

Alexandre Pantoja career snapshot

Recent formL-W-W-W-WLatest 5 decisive tracked pro results

Current run1-fight losing streakMost recent tracked result: Loss vs Joshua Van

Finish profile67%20 finishes in 30 recorded wins

Primary win pathsubmission12 recorded wins by submission

Alexandre Pantoja quick answers

What is Alexandre Pantoja's record?

Alexandre Pantoja's professional MMA record is 30-6-0.

How old is Alexandre Pantoja?

Alexandre Pantoja is 36 years old.

What weight class is Alexandre Pantoja?

Alexandre Pantoja fights at Flyweight in UFC.

What gym does Alexandre Pantoja represent?

Alexandre Pantoja is associated with American Top Team, whose 45 active Combat Edge fighters average 1718 Elo.

How tall is Alexandre Pantoja?

Alexandre Pantoja is 5'5" tall with a 67" reach.

How much does Alexandre Pantoja weigh?

Alexandre Pantoja competes at Flyweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 125 lbs.

What is Alexandre Pantoja's Combat Edge Elo?

Alexandre Pantoja's Combat Edge Elo is 1808, with a peak Elo of 1825.

How strong is Alexandre Pantoja's recent opposition?

Alexandre Pantoja's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1714 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.

When was Alexandre Pantoja's last fight?

Alexandre Pantoja's latest tracked pro fight was against Joshua Van at UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 on Dec 6 2025.

What is Alexandre Pantoja's recent form?

Alexandre Pantoja's recent tracked pro form is L-W-W-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.

How does Alexandre Pantoja usually win?

Alexandre Pantoja's 30 recorded wins include 8 knockouts, 12 submissions, and 10 decisions, with 67% ending before the final bell.

8Wins by knockout

12Wins by submission

10Wins by decision

1Loss by knockout

0Loss by submission

5Loss by decision

Alexandre Pantoja stats

Record : 30 / 6 / 0

Significant strikes landed per minute

4.38Fighter4.07UFC flyweight avg

Significant striking accuracy

50%Fighter45%UFC flyweight avg

Significant strikes absorbed per minute

3.88Fighter3.86UFC flyweight avg

Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land

50%Fighter55%UFC flyweight avg

Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes

2.79Fighter1.43UFC flyweight avg

Takedown accuracy

4%Fighter28%UFC flyweight avg

Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land

69%Fighter57%UFC flyweight avg

Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes

0.98Fighter0.60UFC flyweight avg

Next fightvs Joshua VanUFC 331 — Sep 19 2026Matchup preview →

Pro fight history

ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details

Upcoming30-6Joshua Van17-2PendingTBDTBDUFC 331Sep 19 2026View details

Loss30-5-17 EloJoshua Van15-2TKO (arm injury)0:26R1UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2Dec 6 2025View details

Win29-5+13 EloKai Kara-France25-11Submission (Rear-naked choke)1:55R3UFC 317: Topuria vs. OliveiraJun 28 2025View details

Win28-5+16 EloKai Asakura21-4Submission (Rear Naked Choke)2:05R2UFC 310: Pantoja vs. AsakuraDec 7 2024View details

Win27-5+13 EloSteve Erceg12-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R5UFC 301: Pantoja vs. ErcegMay 4 2024View details

Win26-5+13 EloBrandon Royval15-6Decision (Unanimous)5:00R5UFC 296: Edwards vs. CovingtonDec 16 2023View details

Win25-5+15 EloBrandon Moreno21-6-2Decision (Split)5:00R5UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. RodriguezJul 8 2023View details

Win24-5+19 EloAlex Perez24-6Submission (Rear Naked Choke)1:31R1UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2Jul 30 2022View details

Win23-5+16 EloBrandon Royval12-5Submission (Rear Naked Choke)1:46R2UFC Fight NightAug 21 2021View details

Win22-5+12 EloManel Kape15-4Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight NightFeb 6 2021View details

Cancelled30-6-0Manel KapeRecord TBDCancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedUFC Fight NightDec 19 2020Details unavailable

Loss22-4Askar Askarov12-0-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight NightJul 18 2020Details unavailable

Win21-4Matt Schnell14-4KO (punches)4:17R1UFC on ESPN+ 23Dec 21 2019View details

Loss21-3Deiveson Figueiredo15-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 240: Holloway vs. EdgarJul 27 2019View details

Win20-3Wilson Reis23-9TKO (punches)2:58R1UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2Apr 13 2019View details

Win19-3Ulka Sasaki21-5-2Submission (Rear Naked Choke)2:18R1UFC Fight Night 140Nov 17 2018Details unavailable

Win18-3Brandon Moreno14-4Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight Night 129May 19 2018View details

Loss18-2Dustin Ortiz17-7Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 220: Miocic vs. N'GannouJan 20 2018Details unavailable

Win17-2Neil Seery16-12Submission (Rear Naked Choke)2:31R3UFC Fight Night 113Jul 16 2017View details

Win16-2Eric Shelton10-2Decision (Split)5:00R3UFC on FOX 23Jan 28 2017Details unavailable

Loss30-6-0Hiromasa OugikuboRecord TBDDecision (Unanimous)Exhibition MMA5:00R2The Ultimate Fighter Season 24Aug 3 2016Details unavailable

Win30-6-0Kai Kara-FranceRecord TBDDecision (Unanimous)Exhibition MMA5:00R2The Ultimate Fighter Season 24Jul 26 2016Details unavailable

Win30-6-0Brandon MorenoRecord TBDSubmission (Rear Naked Choke)Exhibition MMA3:44R2The Ultimate Fighter Season 24Jul 13 2016Details unavailable

Win15-2Damacio Page19-9Submission (Triangle Choke)5:00R2RFA vs. Legacy FC 1May 8 2015Details unavailable

Win14-2Matt Manzanares7-2Submission (Rear Naked Choke)2:38R2RFA 18: Manzanares vs. PantojaSep 12 2014Details unavailable

Win13-2Lincon de Sá13-2Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3Shooto Brasil 45Dec 20 2013Details unavailable

Win12-2Daniel Araujo3-2Submission (Rear Naked Choke)2:13R1WOCS 31Nov 1 2013Details unavailable

Cancelled30-6-0Pedro NobreRecord TBDCancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedWOCS 29Sep 20 2013Details unavailable

Win11-2Rodrigo dos Santos8-2Submission (rear-naked choke)4:29R1MMA Fight Show 1Mar 16 2013Details unavailable

Cancelled30-6-0Shely SantanaRecord TBDCancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedFHB 5Feb 23 2013Details unavailable

Cancelled30-6-0Dileno LopesRecord TBDCancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedShooto Brazil 34Sep 21 2012Details unavailable

Win10-2Lincon de Sá10-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3Shooto Brazil 32Jul 14 2012Details unavailable

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