Flyweight

Alexandre Pantoja

The Cannibal

30-6

Age
36
Height
5'5"
Reach
5'8"
Stance
Orthodox
Camp
American Top Team
Out of
Brazil
Style
striker
Fight IQ
B · 71
Finish rate
40%
Win rate
83%

Career methods

KO/TKO
3
Sub
12
Dec
15

FightMetric

SLpM

4.38

SApM

4.40

Str Acc

55%

Str Def

42%

TD Avg

2.79

TD Acc

48%

TD Def

64%

Sub Avg

0.98

Tape read

Pocket striker — suspect hips against the shot, porous pocket

Fight IQ

71B

Built from FightMetric rates, method shares, and 7 loaded UFC rows. Timing and agility are tape proxies, not lab measurements.

IQ

B

Ground

C+

Defense

D

Counter

D

Reaction

proxy

D

Agility

proxy

D

TD react

C

Chin

B+

What they do well

  • Durability

    Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.

Where they leak

  • Timing & reaction

    Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent.

  • Striking defense

    Defensive liability. Opponents land at a clip that turns every exchange into a finish window.

  • Counter punching

    Limited counter threat. Opponents can miss without paying a finishing tax.

Scouting report

Alexandre Pantoja “The Cannibal” is a 36-year-old Orthodox flyweight out of Brazil, camped at American Top Team. The tape read: pocket striker — suspect hips against the shot, porous pocket. Career mark 30-6-0 — 3 by KO/TKO, 12 by submission, 15 by decision. Fight IQ grades B (71).

What works. Durability is the standout at 80 (B+). Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean. Ground game C+ on 2.79 TD/15 and 0.98 sub attempts. Striking defense D at 42% / 4.40 SApM. Counter punching D; punching agility D (output × accuracy × age curve). Takedown reaction C on 64% TD defense. These are tape proxies — not lab reaction times — built from FightMetric rates, finish shares, and 7 loaded UFC rows.

Where it breaks. Timing & reaction is the soft spot (30, D). Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent. Opponents who take away their first look and make them solve a second problem have historically been the ones who make this résumé leak. Losses lean decision more often than a highlight — the issue is usually control of minutes, not a glass jaw.

Recent tape (7 bouts): L Van (KO/TKO R1) · W Kara-France (Submission R3) · W Asakura (Submission R2) · W 4997217 (Decision - Unanimous R5) · W Royval (Decision - Unanimous R5). Form index positive over the last 5. 5 of those wins reached the championship minutes — cardio and late IQ are real.

Ground game

65 C+

Ground work is situational, not a finishing engine. Expect clinch entries more than a mat cycle.

  • 2.79 takedowns / 15 at 48% accuracy
  • 0.98 submission attempts / 15 · 12 career sub wins

Striking defense

35 D

Defensive liability. Opponents land at a clip that turns every exchange into a finish window.

  • 42% striking defense · 4.40 SApM
  • 0 KO/TKO losses in 6 defeats

Counter punching

40 D

Limited counter threat. Opponents can miss without paying a finishing tax.

  • 55% accuracy on 4.38 SLpM
  • 0.29 knockdowns / 15 · 3 KO/TKO wins

Timing & reaction

30 D

Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent.

  • Str def 42% · TD def 64% — the two read-and-react rates
  • 4.40 shots absorbed / min (lower = sees it earlier)

Punching agility

50 D

Heavy or economical. Combinations are chosen, not sprayed — opponents can time the entries.

  • 4.38 SLpM at 55% — output with cleanliness
  • Throws without paying full retail: 4.40 SApM

Takedown reaction

54 C

A takedown magnet. Low TD defense plus submission losses — this is the hole a grappler builds a camp around.

  • 64% takedown defense — the live reaction to level changes
  • 0 submission losses (once the fight hits the mat)

Durability

80 B+

Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.

  • 0 times finished by strikes in 6 losses
  • 15 decision wins — proof they last and still score

Next

UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2

vs Joshua Van · model 43%

Fight history

DateOpponentResMethodRndSig
Dec 7, 2025Joshua VanLKO/TKO1 0:266/11
Jun 29, 2025Kai Kara-FranceWSubmission3 1:5542/76
Dec 8, 2024Kai AsakuraWSubmission2 2:0532/52
May 5, 2024Fighter 4997217WDecision - Unanimous5 5:00125/242
Dec 17, 2023Brandon RoyvalWDecision - Unanimous5 5:0095/156
Jul 9, 2023Brandon MorenoWDecision - Split5 5:00129/274
Jul 9, 2023Brandon MorenoWDecision - Split5 5:00129/274