Alexandre Pantoja returns at UFC 331 'very hungry to conquer one more time' as champion
It's been a long 10 months since Alexandre Pantoja was injured and lost his belt to Joshua Van. He can't wait for the rematch Saturday night.
Los Angeles – The trash talk from flyweight champion Joshua Van during the UFC 331 press conference left Alexandre Pantoja, 36, feeling provoked. Pantoja, who is 10 months removed from a title fight where Van claimed the 125-pound crown in a controversial manner, said he was motivated to beat Van once more. Pantoja explained that in his 90s, respect for one's parents is crucial, but Dana White intervened.
The matchup between Van and Pantoja, who will face each other in the main event, is a rematch of their December title fight. Pantoja, who has been waiting patiently to return, said his time off allowed him to spend time with his family and kids while continuing to train. However, he emphasized that he is very hungry to conquer once again, joining only Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo in having a second title reign.
Despite facing a tough opponent, Pantoja remains focused on himself and his goal of becoming the world champion.
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