Until recently, the last time no Brazilian fighter possessed a UFC
title was July 2016, after Rafael dos
Anjos relinquised the lightweight crown to Eddie
Alvarez.
Brazil was left without a UFC belt when Amanda
Nunes retired last month, but Rio de Janeiro native Alexandre
Pantoja can end the current drought when he faces Brandon
Moreno in the UFC 290 co-main event. Pantoja’s coach at
American Top Team, Conan Silveira, is confident his charge can get
the job done.
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“Sometimes you get your best opportunities at the wrong time.
That’s definitely not the case with Alexandre. Pantoja is in the
[prime] of his career, totally obsessed with winning that belt,”
Silveira said. “This is his time. I believe 150% he will win.”
Silveira was in Pantoja’s corner at UFC Fight Night 129 in Chile,
when “The Cannibal” defeated the current flyweight champion via
unanimous decision. Pantoja also defeated Moreno via submission on
“The Ultimate Fighter 24,” but that bout is officially classifed as
on exhibition.
“Pantoja totally dominated him that time and got really close to
finishing the fight, just like the first one in 2016,” Silveira
said. “But we are aware that Moreno is a totally different fighter,
and just like Pantoja, [has] added many other tools to his
game.”
Silveira also revealed that he expects Thiago
Santos and Antonio
Carlos Jr. to return to Professonal Fighters League before the
organization’s championship event at the end of the year.
“‘Marreta’ was tested 50 times by USADA,” Silveira said. “What
happened this time is that he was doing a treatment for his wife to
get pregnant and the doctor informed him it wouldn’t be doping. He
paid a small fine and got a six-month suspension and will return in
October.”
According to the ATT leader, Carlos Jr. will be back in action even
sooner.
“He is already in good shape. Helping [Marcus
Almeida] and Johnny
Eblen a lot,” Silveira said. “Since he is really popular in
Brazil now, due to ‘Big Brother,’ he may be used if PFL does its
first Brazilian event in September. Otherwise he will do a
superfight on the night of the tournament finals.”
Additionally, Silveira discussed the status of two-time PFL champ
Kayla
Harrison, who still has two fights remaining on her existing
deal.
“PFL has until Dec. 31 to give her two fights, after that she will
be a free agent,” he said. “She is training hard and in good shape,
but there is no next opponent decided yet.”