It is no secret right now that UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson and the UFC aren’t on the same page.
Alexandre Pantoja is a part of the UFC Flyweight Division and he isn’t a fan of the way the promotion is treating the flyweight champion.
"Some fighters can promote well, I think Conor McGregor is someone that pleases everyone, but not every fighter is like that,” Pantoja told MMA Fighting. "The UFC should be the one to build a marketing structure that matches Demetrious Johnson’s style. I know he loves video games, so they could work on that. It doesn’t help to argue with him. The guy is winning. It’s a bit ridiculous to see the UFC demand anything from a guy that dominates the division for five years."
Pantoja recently competed at UFC Fight Night: Glasgow, where he defeated Neil Seery by submission in Seery’s retirement fight.
The Brazilian also doesn’t want to see the UFC force Johnson to move up a weight class to the bantamweight division.
"He’s not a heavy fighter,” Pantoja said. "People tell him to move up, but why would he give a 20-pound advantage to his opponents? It’s kind of surreal. I met him at the Retreat. He’s a super nice guy. And I was surprised to find out that he’s shorter than me,” he continued. "I’m one of the lightest fighters in the division, and he’s as light as me and dominates the division. He didn’t need to change his body structure, keeps his weight low and puts on a show. He’s explosive, dominant, and his cardio is unbelievable. He fights the fifth round as he fights the first one. I think the key for his performance is his mindset."
It is unlikely that Johnson and Pantoja will meet in the Octagon in the near future, as Pantoja is currently ranked #14 in the division.
