Muhammad Mokaev names one fighter who could dethrone UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja
Undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev believes UFC champion Alexandre Pantoja has the rest of the division mentally defeated, with the exception of one fighter.
Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is not-so-quietly on one of the most impressive runs in the sport, with three title defenses under his belt, and a potential fourth just over a month away. Since most of the top flyweights have been hanging around in the rankings for years, Pantoja has already faced and defeated half of the current top 10, while sending others out of the top 15. Mokaev understands the familiarity, which he believes gives Pantoja a mental edge.
"You know, the flyweight division, the guys been in the division for a long time," Mokaev said in an interview with Chael Sonnen. "I've been a fan of Tim Elliott. 2017, I watched his fight live against Demetrious Johnson. He was 'Ultimate Fighter' winner. Then, I fought myself in 2023 against Tim Elliott. So, those guys have been in that division for so long.
"If you start in that division, growing up with them, you're going to read them. You watch the fights, you already like – it feels like your neighbors. So, he already read them, and so he basically just have to get in shape and perform, that's it. Mentally, Pantoja is in their heads."
Mokaev believes there's only one fighter currently on the UFC's flyweight roster who could dethrone Pantoja – and it's someone he has first-hand experience against.
"Only guy I think who can beat Pantoja right now in the division, I would say, is Manel Kape," Mokaev said.
It's a matchup that could come together soon, and it wouldn't be the first time Pantoja and Kape met inside the octagon.
Pantoja won a unanimous decision against Kape in 2021, a victory that kickstarted his run to capturing the flyweight title. For Kape, the result was the first of back-to-back losses that year. He has since rebounded to go 6-1, and currently has a No. 1 contender fight on the books against former title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317. Mokaev also mixed it up with Kape, winning a unanimous decision at UFC 304, so he knows what it takes to deal with "Starboy."
For Mokaev, as he continues his career outside of the UFC, his main focus right now is to continue evolving his striking. Should he ever receive the call to return to the UFC, he intends to be a more well-rounded fighter with the threat of wrestling always ready as a backup plan.
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