title: UFC Veteran Predicts Tough Fight for Pantoja if He Pursues Double Belt
UFC's flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja seems to be on the hunt for tough challenges in his division, having nearly wiped it clean. But if you ask former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, Pantoja might want to steer clear of bantamweight, especially while Merab Dvalishvili holds the title.
During a recent episode of his 'MMArcade' podcast, Whittaker was asked about Pantoja potentially challenging Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title. Whittaker predicted a one-sided beatdown, stating, "I love Pantoja, but Merab murders him. If Pantoja goes up to Merab, Merab murders him...bad. I like Pantoja. He's won me over a lot. He's killed the division, but I don't think Merab is where Pantoja's double belt lies."
Cardio doesn't seem to be an issue for Pantoja, but few in the history of the sport have a deeper gas tank than Dvalishvili. At UFC 311, the Georgian demonstrated legendary stamina, pace, wrestling, and strength against Nurmagomedov. In a potential matchup with Pantoja, Dvalishvili would enjoy a size advantage, being an inch taller at 5-foot-6 and naturally thicker-built.
When it comes to stand-up, it's unlikely Pantoja would find success against Dvalishvili. Sean O'Malley and Nurmagomedov couldn't outmaneuver Dvalishvili, making it tough for Pantoja, even with his submission skills being superior. Dvalishvili's wrestling and power would likely allow him to hold his ground in grappling situations.
There might not be a fighter currently who matches up well with Dvalishvili at flyweight or bantamweight. Dvalishvili has already taken on and defeated most of the top-ranked guys in his division. Meanwhile, Pantoja is fresh off a successful title defense against Kai Asakura at UFC 310. He's since called out retired former flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson, but Johnson dismissed the idea, focusing on YouTube content creation instead.
As for Pantoja's future opponents at flyweight, there are currently no fights scheduled for the next UFC card. However, there are noteworthy middleweight matchups lined up for the February 1 card in Saudi Arabia, including Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael Page, and others.
Despite Alexandre Pantoja's dominance at flyweight, Robert Whittaker cautions against a bantamweight challenge, predicting a harsh defeat against Merab Dvalishvili. The upcoming UFC 312 card does not feature any fights for Pantoja, but the February 1 middleweight lineup includes intriguing matchups, such as Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov and Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael Page.
