Alexandre Pantoja badly injured his arm in his title fight against Joshua Van at UFC 323 when he fell awkwardly after throwing a head kick and tried to post on his arm, causing a gruesome-looking bend near the elbow that immediately stopped the fight and cost him his flyweight belt.
What the injury was
Early reports from cageside doctors described the injury as a left shoulder dislocation that went back into place on its own, even though replays made it look like an elbow break or dislocation. Later coverage and medical commentary suggested he likely suffered a serious elbow injury or dislocation from the way the joint twisted when he braced his fall.
How it happened in the fight
The injury occurred just about 20–26 seconds into the first round, when Pantoja threw a head kick, lost his balance, and his arm twisted unnaturally as he tried to catch himself on the way down. He immediately grabbed the arm, signaled he could not continue, and the referee waved off the bout, making Van the new UFC flyweight champion by TKO.
Current status and recovery talk
Pantoja has since posted messages saying he has been through worse, that he is in a sling, and that he plans to come back stronger, thanking fans for their support. Doctors and analysts expect several months out whether or not surgery is needed, and UFC officials have indicated the division will likely move on with other title fights while he recovers, with a possible rematch later.
