Alexandre Pantoja recently suffered a serious arm injury during a title fight, which caused him to lose his UFC flyweight belt by doctor/referee stoppage.
Injury and fight outcome
- At UFC 323 in Las Vegas, Pantoja was defending his flyweight title against Joshua Van when he fell awkwardly just 26 seconds into the first round, causing his left arm to bend in a gruesome, unnatural way.
- The bout was immediately stopped due to the injury, and Van was awarded a TKO victory and the flyweight championship, ending Pantoja’s title reign.
Nature of the injury
- Initial reports from UFC officials and Dana White described the injury as a dislocated shoulder that went back into place on its own, with further scans planned to assess ligament damage.
- Subsequent reporting from MMA outlets indicated that the primary damage was to Pantoja’s left elbow rather than the shoulder, clarifying that an elbow injury was responsible for the bout’s end.
Current status and future
- Pantoja has released statements on social media saying he has “been through worse,” thanking fans for their support, and promising to recover and work to reclaim his title.
- UFC officials have indicated there is no clear timeline for his return, and he is expected to undergo imaging and rehabilitation before any talk of an immediate rematch with Joshua Van.
