Alexandre Pantoja expects title shot with UFC 277 win over Alex Perez

DALLAS – Alexandre Pantoja has been chomping at the bit for a title shot and thinks a win at UFC 277 will get it done.

Pantoja (24-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) meets Alex Perez (24-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the co-main event, Brandon Moreno faces Kai Kara-France for the interim flyweight title. Having beat both men, Pantoja felt snubbed out of the title picture and is treating Perez as a No. 1 contender fight. Also, with champion Deiveson Figueiredo sidelined due to injury, Pantoja thinks another title fight takes place before he returns.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for me and for Alex now,” Pantoja told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s media day. “The title is there. The champion Deiveison is on vacation all life now. He looks big. Maybe he won’t be back this year, and I think this fight with Alex is like who’s next to fight for the title. I think he (Perez) thinks the same.”

He continued, “I think how I go to the cage is for living or dying. That’s my style. Sometimes you need to be smart because you have tough opponents like Perez now, but I work all day, I go to the gym and train so hard. My training partners know that. I’m ready to be a champion.”

Pantoja holds two wins over Moreno and one over Kara-France. Despite Moreno already beating Kara-France in the past, Pantoja is leaning toward the Kiwi fighter.

“It’s a tough fight for both guys,” Pantoja said. “I know Moreno won the last fight with Kai, but in this moment, maybe Kai has more hunger to win.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.