UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is gearing up for his second title defense against Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC 301, set to take place on May 4 in Brazil, his homeland.
Training at American Top Team (ATT):
Pantoja trains at the prestigious American Top Team (ATT), a renowned gym known for producing top-tier MMA fighters like Dustin Poirier, Jorge Masvidal, and Arman Tsarukyan.
Under the guidance of head coach Marcos DaMatta and diverse coaching staff, Pantoja refines his skills across all aspects of MMA. Mike Brown, Conan Silveira, and King Mo oversee the MMA program, while wrestling is honed by Steve Mocco.
For striking, Pantoja works with Dyah Ali Davis and Gabriel de Oliveira, with additional refinement from Everton Bittar Oliveira and Will Fuchs to ensure peak physical conditioning.
Notable striking coaches such as Thiago Alves and Luciano Dos Santos contribute further to Pantoja’s stand-up game.
Facing Steve Erceg at UFC 301:
Pantoja’s choice to face Steve Erceg ranked No.10 in the UFC flyweight division, has drawn attention due to Erceg’s lower position in the rankings. In a recent interview on UFC Brazil’s official Instagram, Pantoja explained his reasoning behind selecting Erceg as his opponent.
Humorously, Pantoja mentioned that he had jokingly requested to face a “somewhat unknown opponent” for his next title defense, and was surprised when Erceg was presented as his opponent.
Despite Erceg’s ranking, Pantoja respects his toughness and size, jokingly hoping that Erceg might move up a weight class due to his stature.
Pantoja recognizes the challenge Erceg poses and believes he could be a tougher opponent than some higher-ranked fighters due to his fresh entry into the division with nothing to lose. Pantoja emphasizes his own experience in the octagon, confident that it will play a crucial role in their upcoming fight at UFC 301.
In the lead-up to the event, Alexandre Pantoja remains focused on his training regimen at American Top Team, determined to defend his title against Erceg and solidify his position as one of the top flyweights in the UFC.
