Until recently, the last time no Brazilian fighter held the UFC title was July 2016, after Rafael dos Anjos relinquished the lightweight crown to Eddie Alvarez.
Brazil was left without a UFC belt when Amanda Nunes retired last month, but Rio de Janeiro’s Alexandre Pantoja can end his current drought when he faces Brandon Moreno in the UFC 290 co-main event. Pantoga’s coach on America’s Top Team, Conan Silvera, is confident his charge can deliver. get the job done.
“Sometimes you get the best opportunities at the wrong time. That is certainly not the case with Aleksandar. Pantoja is located in
[prime] Of his career, he’s completely obsessed with winning that belt.” “This is his time. I think he will win 150%.
Silveira was in Pantoja’s corner at UFC Fight Night 129 in Chile, when he defeated “The Cannibal” the current flyweight champion via unanimous decision. Pantoja also defeated Moreno by submitting at “The Ultimate Fighter 24”, but this match was officially classified as an in-show.
“Bantuga completely controlled him at the time and really came close to finishing the fight, just like the first one in 2016,” said Silvera. “But we realize that Moreno is a completely different fighter, just like Pantoja, [has] He added many other tools to his game.
Silvera also revealed that he expects Thiago Santos and Antonio Carlos Jr. to return to the Professional Fighters League ahead of the organization’s year-end tournament event.
“Marreta has been tested 50 times by USADA,” Silvera said. “What happened this time was that he was treating his wife for an intolerance and the doctor told him he would not be doping. He paid a small fine and got a six-month suspension and will be back in October.”
According to the ATT leader, Carlos Jr. will be back in action sooner.
“He’s in really good shape. Help.” [Marcus
Almeida] And Johnny Ibelin a lot,” Silvera said. “Since he’s so popular in Brazil now, because of ‘Big Brother,’ he might be used if the PFL does its first Brazilian event in September. Otherwise, he would have a super battle on the night of the tournament finals.”
Additionally, Silvera discussed the case of two-time PFL champion, Kayla Harrison, who still has two fights remaining on her current deal.
“The PFL has until December 31st to have two fights, after which she will be a free agent,” he said. “She’s training hard and in good shape, but no next opponent has been decided yet.”