- Demetrious Johnson didn’t shy away from criticizing Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301
- “Mighty Mouse” thinks one flyweight contender could beat “The Cannibal”
Demetrious Johnson wasn’t pleased by Alexandre Pantoja’s UFC 301 victory over Steve Erceg and names the only flyweight who could end the current champion’s reign.
DJ criticized the champ
Speaking on his YouTube channel, “Mighty Mouse” shamelessly criticized Pantoja’s performance against Erceg at UFC 301. For Johnson, “The Cannibal” didn’t do anything impressive out there and looked as if he was trying to make it to the end of the fight.
“I didn’t feel like Alex Pantoja was a better fighter… if you keep him away from his grappling… you can take advantage of him,” Johnson began.
“I feel Pantoja cuts too much weight,” he added. “When I look at the past champions, I look at [Deiveson] Figueiredo, an amazing champion, powerful, great athleticism. When I look at Henry Cejudo he would move so good, he was finishing people. I look at myself I was moving and finishing people. Then when I look at Pantoja, it’s almost like he’s getting through the fights, he’s not excelling through the fights… it’s not like he’s getting stronger as the fight goes on.”
One contender could take Pantoja out
The way Johnson sees it, Muhammad Mokaev is the flyweight contender who could stop Pantoja. Johnson thinks “The Punisher” has the set of qualities needed to strategically beat “The Cannibal” on the feet and on the ground.
“I think Mokaev can beat Alexandre Pantoja because, one he’s good on his feet, and two he has a better wrestling background. Three, I think he will be better about not making the decision of like, hey I can beat Pantoja on the feet, I don’t need to take him down, so we just need to make sure we get close to each other, you’ve got to make sure you don’t let him take you down,” Johnson assessed.
Pantoja has now defended his flyweight title twice since capturing the belt by beating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290.
Demetrious Johnson criticizes Alexandre Pantoja's performance at #UFC301, and compares him to past flyweight champions.
"I didn't feel like Alex Pantoja was a better fighter… if you keep him away from his grappling… you can take advantage of him…
When I look at the past… pic.twitter.com/j3ee84NS8W
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 5, 2024
