Injuries suck, man. That’s the lesson to take away from Pantoja’s situation, by which a knee harm stored him transparent of a reputation have compatibility versus then-champion Brandon Moreno, an individual he’s defeated two instances previously. Instead, the Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo trilogy went down, there’s going to be an period in-between title, and the whole thing is all screwy at 125 pounds. Perez finds himself in a difficult situation of being one of the vital an important best Flyweights in the world, however moreover being perhaps slightly too massive for the weight class. Injuries, weigh-in mishaps, and not unusual bad good fortune have stored him out of the cage since November 2020, so the power is on for Perez to return with a big statement.

Let’s take a greater check out the keys to victory for every man:

Alexandre Pantoja

Record: 24-5
Key Wins: Brandon Moreno (UFC Struggle Evening time 129), Brandon Royval (UFC Vegas 34), Manel Kape (UFC Vegas 18), Matt Schnell (UFC Struggle Evening time 165), Wilson Reis (UFC 236)
Key Losses: Askar Askarov (UFC Struggle Island 2), Deiveson Figueiredo (UFC 240), Dustin Ortiz (UFC 220)
Keys to Victory: It’s no longer every day the dept’s best jiu-jitsu black belt (arguably) loves to brawl and so that happens to be good at it! Pantoja loves to slug it out, alternatively he’s no dummy and will take any selection offered to jump on the once more and strangle his opponent.

I am hoping this combat doesn’t implode like plenty of Perez’s recent have compatibility ups, because of it is a precise good one. The ones two have superb abilities on the feet and on the mat, that implies they can compete in all areas, and there’s liable to be some massive momentum shifts if the combat doesn’t end early.

That’s a recipe for standard high-pace Flyweight violence.

Pantoja’s absolute key to victory this is to steer clear of spending time on his once more. He’s if truth be told an overly cast wrestler, alternatively Pantoja has been outhustled by the use of additional consistent takedown artists previously. Despite the fact that his warring parties’ top position didn’t amount to so much hurt or even extremely long periods of keep watch over, it worth him close alternatives. Perez is liable to employ that game plan, so Pantoja has to make sure that getting up takes priority over scrambling when put on his once more.

Alex Perez

Record: 24-6
Key Wins: Jussier Formiga (UFC 250), Jordan Espinosa (UFC Struggle Evening time 166), Eric Shelton (UFC on FOX 28), Jose Torres (UFC 227)
Key Losses: Deiveson Figueiredo (UFC 255), Joseph Benavidez (TUF 28 Finale)
Keys to Victory: Struggle fans have almost definitely forgotten in all his time away, alternatively Perez is a really amusing fighter. He has original knockout power for the dept, and when the collegiate wrestler does turn to his takedowns, he doesn’t merely adventure for keep watch over.

Perez is a finishing risk with ground strikes and submissions alike.

As outlined above, the takedown is maximum some of the essential imagine Perez’s success. However, he can not attempt to move to be had available in the market and simply try in opposition to Pantoja — it’s no longer that easy! So that you could entire takedowns, Perez has to really engage on the feet and business some massive blows. There’s probability involved, positive, alternatively Pantoja is a long way easier to take down when he’s planting his feet and swinging.

Typically, I’d like to seem Perez really push the rate proper right here. Pantoja is an elite Flyweight, so he doesn’t gasoline necessarily, alternatively the Brazilian has slowed down late in fights more than Perez. Another time, the odds of an in depth, competitive combat appear over the top, so a strong finishing round might simply sway the judges’ selection.

Bottom Line

Is the Flyweight division a mess presently with Figueiredo most likely leaving and an period in-between belt inside the works? Surely, alternatively at least there’s no longer a possibility of all the factor getting canned! This remains a killer combat with title implications.

Pantoja earned a reputation shot already when he strangled Royval quicker than circumstances derailed his rubber have compatibility with Moreno. “The Assassin Kid” is ready to combat for the period in-between title all over again later Saturday evening time, and if he wins that bout, Pantoja is once all over again in extremely good position to combat for the belt once this whole period in-between business is resolved. Even supposing it all shakes out and Figueiredo remains the strap-hanger, who spotted their first combat and isn’t down for a rematch?

Conversely, this is Perez’s chance to prove where he stands at 125 lbs. A win proper right here definitively shows that Perez remains to be a contender inside the Highest 5, and there’s a ton of possible contemporary have compatibility ups for him. He’s under no circumstances fought Moreno, Royval, Kai-Kara France, and all the ones matchups sound like BANGERS!

At UFC 277, Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Perez will duel in a pivotal Flyweight struggle. Which man will keep standing when the dust settles?