Joshua Van just threw gasoline on the fire for UFC 331, dropping an absolutely wild comment about Alexandre Pantoja that turns Saturday’s rematch into must-watch TV. Forget respect, the flyweight champ straight-up declared, “As far as I check, I’m his dad.” Yeah, you read that right. Van, at just 24 years old, is not just talking trash, he is trying to get inside Pantoja’s head in a way we rarely see.
Pantoja’s Push for Respect Hits a Brick Wall
This whole thing kicked off earlier on Wednesday at UFC 331 media day in Los Angeles. Alexandre Pantoja, the 36-year-old veteran, was still stewing over Van being mouthy during last month’s press conference in Philadelphia. Pantoja, who’s from the ’90s, talked about how back in his day, you’d get slapped for disrespecting your elders, like your mother and father. He even said Dana White had to stop him from laying hands on Van earlier. You can practically feel the tension when he said, “In that time, if you don’t respect your mother and your father, they’re gonna slap you. I thought about that, but Dana White stopped me.”
But when those words got back to Van during his own media session, the champ showed zero chill. He doubled down hard. “I don’t know what he was talking about,” Van fired back. “You know the sh*t that he be saying? He should get smacked for that.” Van claimed Pantoja was respectful *after* their first fight but is now trying to make him the bad guy in interviews. “I told him we’re going to fight again. I don’t know what his deal was, but I was just annoyed,” Van said. He thinks Pantoja is playing the “good guy” trying to frame him as the villain, but Van doesn’t care. “It’s funny to me. We’re going to fight Saturday and find out who’s the better man,” he declared, setting the stage for an absolute war.
Unfinished Business and a Vow to Leave No Doubt
This isn’t just standard pre-fight banter, folks. Their first fight, last December at UFC 323, had one of those “unsatisfying endings” that leaves everyone wanting more. Van snatched the 125-pound title after Pantoja suffered a nasty arm injury just 26 seconds into the bout. Seriously, 26 seconds! That’s barely enough time to break a sweat, let alone settle who the better fighter is. Van, for his part, went on to defend his crown in May with a tough, hard-fought win over Tatsuro Taira, proving he’s a legit champ.
But heading into this rematch, the champ is crystal clear: there will be no debate this time. “There’s no ‘if’,” Van stated. “When I beat him, I will be one of the greats in this division.” He believes Pantoja is putting pressure on himself because he’s never had someone talk back to him like this. “Every guy that (Pantoja) fought, they showed him too much respect,” Van pointed out. “This is the first time someone ever talked back to him or point out what he’s been saying is wrong. He’s not used to it. I think he’s putting pressure on himself for sure.” This Saturday’s headliner at Crypto.com Arena, live on Paramount+, isn’t just about the title anymore. It’s personal. Van wants to prove he’s not just the better man, but truly the “dad” in this fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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