Alexandre Pantoja
Active 2017–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 89.0
Scouting report
Alexandre Pantoja won the UFC Flyweight Championship against Brandon Moreno in a five-round bout at UFC 290 in July 2023. Fighting out of American Top Team and hailing from Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, "The Cannibal" relies on an aggressive back-take game, heavy top pressure, and a durable chin, and has defended his belt against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg. His 94 BJJ and 92 Durability ratings anchor an 89 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
On May 20, 2018, Pantoja defeated Brandon Moreno by decision. He followed that with wins in 2018 and 2019 over Wilson Reis (first-round knockout at UFC 236) and Ulka Sasaki by submission, before dropping a decision to Deiveson Figueiredo. His power punching and scramble submission threats are reflected in an 84 Boxing and 92 BJJ rating.
In 2020 and 2021, Pantoja lost a decision to Askar Askarov, then outpointed Manel Kape and submitted Brandon Royval with a rear-naked choke in Las Vegas. His forward pressure and mat control are reflected in an 86 Boxing and 89 Cardio score.
Pantoja won the flyweight title from Brandon Moreno by split decision at UFC 290 in July 2023, then defended it against Brandon Royval at UFC 296 and Steve Erceg at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. His pace and durability across five-round title fights are reflected in a 90 Cardio and 86 Boxing.
Alexandre Pantoja, a Rio jiu-jitsu teacher at 15
Alexandre Pantoja grew up in Rio de Janeiro, started Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 11, and began teaching it at 15. He tried Muay Thai under Helbert Reis and made his MMA debut at 17. He won the flyweight title against Brandon Moreno in 2023 and defended it four times, and he has more wins than almost anyone in division history.
Pantoja and what stands behind each rating
Boxing. Good. He knocked out Matt Schnell in round one in 2019.
Kickboxing. Solid. He first saw Muay Thai at a jiu-jitsu event and trained under Helbert Reis.
Wrestling. Very good. He is near the top of the flyweight list in takedowns landed.
BJJ. His top number. He is one of the division's most prolific submission finishers, including Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France.
Strength. Fair. He has piled up flyweight wins, so size has not held him back.
Durability. Very good. He kept coming through the 2019 loss to Figueiredo and the 2020 loss to Askarov.
Cardio. Excellent. He beat Moreno in a split decision over five rounds in 2023.
Fight IQ. High. He submitted Moreno on The Ultimate Fighter and later beat him for the belt.
BJJ at 94 shows in how he finishes
He is among the flyweight leaders in wins, finishes and submissions. He won a rear-naked choke against Brandon Royval in 2021, a neck crank against Alex Perez in 2022, and a choke against Kai Asakura in 2024 that earned a bonus. He wins on the mat in a variety of ways.
Strength is where he is most vulnerable
At 76, strength is the lowest rating on his card. Joshua Van beat him twice, first by stoppage in December 2025 after an arm injury and again by unanimous decision in September 2026 over five rounds.
Keep exploring
Closest flyweight profiles to Alexandre Pantoja, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Brandon Morenobest cardio 94 · weakest strength 73
- Deiveson Figueiredobest bjj 90 · weakest strength 78
- Amir Albazibest wrestling 90 · weakest strength 75
- Joseph Benavidezbest cardio 90 · weakest strength 75
- Flyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Alexandre Pantoja's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Alexandre Pantoja into your build
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Alexandre Pantoja is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Alexandre Pantoja's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.