Alexandre Pantoja takes Alex Perez’ back and submits him early at UFC 277
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, July 30, 2022, for UFC 277, going down live from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Headlining the event is a bantamweight championship rematch between current champion Julianna Pena (11-4) and former champion, no. 1 ranked Amanda Nunes (21-5).
Co-headlining the event is also a championship rematch, this one going down in the flyweight division between former champion, no. 1 ranked Brandon Moreno (19-6-2), who faces no. 2 ranked Kai Kara-France (24-9) for the interim title in the co-main event of the evening.
Our second bout on the main card tonight also came in the flyweight division between another pair of contenders in no. 4 ranked Alexandre Pantoja (24-5) and no. 6 ranked Alex Perez (24-6).
Continue reading to see how this flyweight encounter went down:
Official Result: Alexandre Pantoja def. Alex Perez via submission (neck crank) at 1:31 of round one
Pantoja comes out and gets right in Perez’ grill, and the two begin to box. They’re literally fighting in a phone booth for the first 15 seconds of the fight before Perez circles out. Pantoja recklessly chases him and secures a trip takedown, transitioning to the back immediately.
Perez stands up while Pantoja finishes securing his back with a body triangle. Perez’ defense is initially holding up, but Pantoja gets his arm across the jaw of Perez and the pain is too painful, as he’s forced to tap.
This was a disappointing affair for Alex Perez, who came into this fight off a year and a half layoff. He fought for the title in that fight, and now that he’s finally returned, this happened.
On the contrary, Alexandre Pantoja is now 25-5 as a professional, and he’s now on a three fight win streak, having secured victories over former Rizin bantamweight champion Manel Kape (UD), as well as former LFA flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (rear naked choke).
It’s almost too bad there’s an interim flyweight title fight tonight, because Alexandre Pantoja is next in line.
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