Moments after Alexandre
Pantoja vanquished former
Rizin bantamweight king Kai Asakura
in the UFC 310
headliner, the reigning flyweight champion made interesting use of
his microphone time in the Octagon.
Advertisement
“This is the level, the UFC level that’s here so high. You think
some Japanese [fighter] going to come here and take my belt? No.
When the Octagon is locked, this is my town, this is my city,”
Pantoja said in his post-fight interview.
“He doesn’t fight anymore. He retired this year. But this is
something for you Demetrious
Johnson,” Pantoja added. “I’m the GOAT here. If you want to
prove you’re the GOAT, come back.”
Johnson was a longtime
UFC flyweight champ before he was traded to ONE
Championship for Ben Askren in
2018. “Mighty Mouse” continued his decorated career in the
Singapore-based promotion — winning a title at 135 pounds — before
announcing his retirement this past September. Johnson is
widely regarded as the sport’s all-time best flyweight and one of
the best pound-for-pound fighters overall.
However, even if Johnson wasn’t still contractually obligated to
ONE, he made it clear that he wouldn’t be interested in a showdown
against the current UFC flyweight king.
“Guys, I got offered $2 million to fight,” Johnson wrote on X. “I
turned it down. I don’t care to fight anymore.”
Guys I got offered 2 million dollars to
fight!! I turned it down I don’t care to fight anymore YouTube
video dropping soon 😊— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse)
December 8, 2024
At the post-fight press conference, Pantoja responded to Johnson’s
social media post, pointing out that his challenge was about far
more than financial security.
“It’s not about money. I don’t fight for money. I fight to prove
myself, [that] I’m the best of the best. I think everybody does
that,” Pantoja said. “Of course, you need your bills, your
mortgage, everything. We’re here to figure out who’s the best of
the best. That’s what I did tonight. I’m super glad UFC gives me
money to defend this belt. I can pay my bills, I can put my kids in
a good place.
“But I don’t fight for just money. Demetrious Johnson, it’s not
about the money, brother. It’s about seeing who’s the best of the
best. I just say that because I see he’s retired. I don’t know
about his contract. I don’t know if he has something where he can’t
come to the UFC anymore. I don’t know. But it’s not about the
money, brother. It’s about the legacy. It’s about seeing who’s the
best. That’s why I live. That’s why I wake up every day to try and
be the best.”
Pantoja has compiled quite the resume over the course of his UFC
career. In addition to three successful flyweight title defenses,
he is tied with Johnson and Benavidez for most 125-pound victories
in UFC history with 13. His record includes notable wins over the
likes of Brandon
Moreno (twice), Brandon
Royval (twice), Steve
Erceg, Alex Perez
and Manel Kape,
among others.