Do not count on Alexander Pantoja to share the Octagon with Merab Dvalishvili.
Pantoja is at present one of many prime pound-for-pound fighters within the UFC. He has been the flyweight titleholder since 2023. Pantoja and Dvalishvili will each seem on the primary card of UFC 323 on December fifth. Pantoja will put his gold medal on the road in opposition to Joshua Bunn, whereas Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight title in opposition to Petr Yan in a rematch.
Many are questioning if Pantoja will ever put himself within the 135-pound title image if he continues to dominate the flyweight division. Pantoja made it clear in an interview with TMZ Sports activities that he has no intention of going through “The Machine” one-on-one (through MMAMAnia.com).
“I believe Merab is without doubt one of the greatest fighters on the planet, 100%. He is No. 3 pound-for-pound, perhaps No. 2,” Pantoja mentioned. “Merab is a formidable opponent for anybody in his weight class…It is not straightforward to assume you’ll be able to transfer up 10 kilos and take down a man like Merab, proper? If you discuss 10 kilos in my weight class, flyweight and bantamweight, that is an enormous comparability…When you take a look at Weili Zhang versus Valentina Shevchenko, you’ll be able to see the scale distinction.”
Pantoja didn’t rule out the potential of difficult Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight championship if he someway makes it again to gold. O’Malley is scheduled to face Track Yadong on January twenty fourth on the UFC 324 card.
As for Dvalishvili, he might be making historical past at UFC 323. If he defeats Yan, he’ll set a brand new file for many title defenses in a 12 months in UFC historical past with 4. As of 2025, Dvalishvili is defending his gold medal in opposition to Umar Nurmagomedov, O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen.
Pantoja made it clear that his major focus is to proceed to show his dominance within the 125-pound division. Time will inform whether or not Pantoja adjustments his thoughts.
