May 4, 2024; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; (EditorÕs Note: Graphic Content in Photo) Alexandre Pantoja during Press Conference during UFC 301 at Farmasi Arena . Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

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Alexandre Pantoja Injury: What Really Happened To The Champion At UFC 323?

Championship fights are supposed to be wars that test every aspect of a fighter’s skill and heart. Fans pay premium prices expecting five rounds of elite competition between the best in the world. Training camps last months, with fighters sacrificing everything to reach peak physical condition for that moment. Then sometimes the cruelest twist of fate ends everything before the fight even begins. Alexandre Pantoja just suffered that fate as he entered UFC 323.

The flyweight champion was riding an eight-fight win streak and four successful title defenses. He faced number one contender Joshua Van in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. ‘The Cannibal’ had become one of the greatest flyweight champions in UFC history, defeating Brandon Moreno for the belt in 2023 and dominating everyone since. His loss at UFC 323 shocked the MMA world, but when what really happened came to light, it was heartbreaking for Pantoja and the fans alike.

Alexandre Pantoja Injury: The Freak Accident That Changed Everything

Round one started with Pantoja establishing his striking early, launching a leg kick as the champion pressed forward aggressively. He then threw a head kick attempting to catch Van early, but something went catastrophically wrong during the technique. Pantoja tripped and fell down awkwardly, immediately clutching his left arm in obvious agony. Something had clearly happened with his left hand or elbow.

ALEXANDRE PANTOJA BREAKS HIS ARM…

JOSHUA VAN IS THE NEW UFC FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION #UFC323 pic.twitter.com/iVIluueWKI
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 7, 2025

The realization hit everyone simultaneously. Pantoja had dislocated his elbow during the failed kick attempt. The fight was over instantly without Van landing a single significant strike. The referee waved it off at just 26 seconds of the opening round, making it one of the shortest title fight endings in UFC history. Van became the new flyweight champion via TKO due to injury, a victory that felt simultaneously thrilling and hollow.

Medical personnel rushed to attend to Pantoja, whose face showed the excruciating pain of a major joint injury. Dislocated elbows are serious injuries that can involve torn ligaments, damaged nerves, and potential fractures. Some reports even suggested it might have been a complete elbow break rather than just a dislocation, though official confirmation would require imaging. He was rushed immediately out of the Octagon for imaging. Fans will know the extent of the injury and the time he will have to take to recover shortly.

New update on Pantoja by Dana White revealed that it was not an elbow dislocation, but a shoulder dislocation. White revealed that the doctors popped his shoulder backstage and then he was sent for MRI. When asked about the timeline for his return, White was unsure, but said that it was going to be some time before fans see Pantoja back in action.

(Image Credit: Jason Silva – Imagn Images)

Alexandre Pantoja

Joshua Van

UFC 323

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!