While many MMA fighters resort to trash talks to make their bouts more exciting and enticing to fans, Alexandre Pantoja chooses to keep it humble and his personal life private.
Despite his bout against Brandon Royval, no criticism or insults about his opponent could be heard from the flyweight champion. This is far from the usual scenario in the MMA industry, which we often witness in the likes of Colby Covington, Julianna Peña, and more. In some instances, some fighters even opt for personal attacks involving the private lives of their opponents. Pantoja, nonetheless, doesn’t think this is necessary or something he would want to do.
As the 33-year-old Brazilian stressed during the UFC 296 media day, fans are paying him for the fight, not to keep track of the things happening in his life.
“(I’m) a family guy, humble guy,” said Pantoja. “You’re never going to see some bullsh*t about me. I don’t like trash-talking. If you pay to watch my fights, you don’t pay to watch my life. I’m not a reality show. I’m a fighter. I make sure every time I go to the octagon, I’m going to make a big show. I’m going to make sure I’m valuing all the coins.”
This will be Pantoja’s first title defense after stealing the belt from Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July. Needless to say, having the title means bigger pay for a fighter, but the champ doesn’t let the limelight distract him from appreciating the real life outside the cage.
“All the time when I go to sleep, I say, ‘Thank you, God, for everything you give to me to live this life and be able to go to the octagon and make all my friends and parents happy,’” Pantoja said. “That’s a lot for me. I live like a dream. I don’t like to say a dream too much because I like to live – day-by-day. I work a lot to live that. I feel very glad to be this person who everyone goes to the fight to watch and make everybody happy.
“I’m keeping my feet on the ground,” Pantoja said. “My wife is very tough. After this fight, maybe I need to go make things with my family – maybe a vacation together. I think that’s what people need to understand about my history.”
