Alexandre Pantoja had cemented himself as one of the UFC’s top flyweights over the past several years. Known for his relentless pace, technical striking, and submission skills, Pantoja became UFC flyweight champion in 2022. He successfully defended the belt multiple times, building a reputation for durability and finishing ability.
Before UFC 323, Pantoja was set to defend his title in a rematch against 24-year-old phenom Joshua Van, who had risen quickly through the flyweight division. Van, undefeated in his previous eight UFC appearances, had earned his title shot after a Fight of the Year contender against Brandon Royval and was poised to test Pantoja’s reign with speed, power, and unrelenting pressure.
The Fight: 26-Second Catastrophe
The co-main event began with Pantoja throwing a head kick that Van caught, forcing the champion backward. Pantoja instinctively posted with his left arm on the canvas, resulting in a severe shoulder dislocation. The referee immediately stopped the contest, crowning Joshua Van the new UFC flyweight champion in what became one of the fastest finishes in a title fight.
Dana White Clarifies Injury
Initially, confusion surrounded the nature of Pantoja’s injury. UFC officials later confirmed it was a shoulder dislocation rather than an elbow injury. Dana White provided a detailed update at the post-fight press conference:
Dana White said: “They popped his shoulder back in. I thought it was the elbow. No, it was not the elbow — it was his shoulder, and they popped it back in backstage. Now they’ve got to do MRIs and check out the ligaments and see how it is. We don’t have a timeframe on how long he’ll be out.”
He continued regarding Pantoja’s future:
“No matter what happened, listen, I’m no f***ing doctor or anything, but I don’t see him coming back anytime soon. I think that there would be a [title] defense [by Van] before he comes back. I think he’s going to need some time.”
Dana White said the medical team popped Pantoja’s shoulder back in backstage. It was not his elbow.#UFC323 pic.twitter.com/eTHKQwIga1
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 7, 2025
Alexandre Pantoja’s Statement
Despite the abrupt setback, Pantoja remained optimistic. On Instagram, he wrote:
“I’ve been through worse. I’ll come back even stronger, you can be sure of that. Thank you for the messages.”
Medical staff will conduct additional scans and orthopedic evaluations to determine the full severity of the shoulder injury and outline a recovery plan.
Joshua Van celebrates his first UFC flyweight championship with a stunning 26-second victory, marking a pivotal moment in his career. Pantoja, meanwhile, faces a period of recovery but is expected to return to contention once medically cleared. UFC fans will be eager to see the former champion back in the octagon, potentially setting up a rematch when Pantoja is healthy.
