Alexandre Pantoja Overcame Life-Threatening Illnesses to Dominate at UFC 317, Eyes Joshua Van Clash
Alexandre Pantoja, the UFC flyweight champion, delivered a dominant performance against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 on Saturday, but his victory was forged in the crucible of a harrowing health battle just weeks before the fight. Pantoja secured the win via rear-naked choke submission in the third round of their co-main event matchup, showcasing a level of control that stifled Kara-France’s every advance.
A Champion’s Resilience: Battling Staph and Beyond
Pantoja’s seemingly effortless victory masked a desperate struggle against multiple health hurdles during his training camp at American Top Team-Florida. In a recent appearance on the UFC’s About Last Fight podcast, the champion revealed a terrifying sequence of events that threatened to derail his title defense.
“A lot of things happened in the last few weeks of training,” Pantoja explained. “I got Staph, and I think everybody realizes how that infection can kill your body inside. The problem that Ben Askren has.” The champion attempted to combat the infection with antibiotics three weeks prior to the fight, but the treatment triggered a dangerous side effect. “Tried using antibiotics…and because I used them, I got fluid in my chest and the lungs. And that’s so crazy.”
The physical toll was immense, but Pantoja also faced a profound emotional struggle. He credited his wife with helping him regain perspective during a dark period. “Sometimes when I was home, I hated everything, and my wife told me ‘You’re not happy with everything you have? Because you go to the gym? You have everything you’ve wished for’,” Pantoja recounted. “And that’s changed everything…”
A Warrior Mentality Prevails
Despite the medical setbacks, Pantoja successfully made championship weight on Friday and then decisively defeated Kara-France on Saturday. He acknowledged the challenges forced him to cultivate a new level of mental fortitude. “I put my mind the right way, and I started to feel happier. Doesn’t matter if I have a problem…it’s a huge lesson that God gave me. Because I’m a champion, things are easier right now. My weight went up and down (in camp) and I realized I needed to have a warrior mentality to get through everything.”
The severity of Pantoja’s Staph infection could have easily escalated, a fate tragically experienced by MMA veteran Ben Askren. Fortunately, Pantoja’s condition did not worsen, allowing him to continue his pursuit of excellence inside the Octagon.
Looking Ahead: A Title Defense Against Joshua Van
With UFC 317 now in the rearview mirror, Pantoja is already setting his sights on his next challenge. Just moments after his victory over Kara-France, he engaged in a face-off with rising contender Joshua Van, who had earlier secured a unanimous decision win over Brandon Royval in an “instant classic brawl.”
This upcoming matchup appears to be the frontrunner for Pantoja’s next flyweight title defense, a sentiment echoed by UFC CEO Dana White during the UFC 317 pre-fight press conference. The UFC flyweight division is experiencing a surge in popularity, and Pantoja and Van are poised to continue its momentum later this year.
Here’s a look at Pantoja’s submission victory over Kara-France:
https://twitter.com/mmaboy_10/status/1708449999999999999
The champion’s journey to UFC 317 serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unwavering dedication required to reach the pinnacle of mixed martial arts.
