Dec 7, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) reacts after defeating Kai Asakura (blues gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Alexandre Pantoja Rejects Merab Dvalishvili Clash, Admits He Would Move Up If Sean O’Malley Becomes Champion!

Dec 7, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) reacts after defeating Kai Asakura (blues gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Champion vs champion fights always generate massive buzz and promotional interest from the UFC. These super fights put two dominant titleholders against each other, creating dream matchups fans debate endlessly. But they also force one champion to move up in weight, surrendering natural advantages. And Alexandre Pantoja is on the fence about this one.

UFC 322 recently featured two champion vs champion matchups, with only one new champion crowned from those bouts. That trend sparked immediate speculation about which champions might face each other next. Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title against Joshua Van at UFC 323 next weekend. Beyond that fight, his division’s options look limited. Now he has revealed a selective willingness to fight at bantamweight based on specific matchup considerations.

Why Alexandre Pantoja Won’t Fight Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili headlines UFC 323 defending his bantamweight title, and he’s also running low on worthy challengers after dominating the division. That created natural speculation about a super fight between the flyweight and bantamweight champions in early 2026. But Pantoja has already shut down that idea completely, explaining his reasoning to TMZ Sports with logical clarity.

“I think Merab is one of the best fighters in the world, you know, 100%…Merab is a tough opponent for everybody in his division….It’s not easy to think about going up 10 pounds and thinking you can finish someone like Merab, you know?”

Alexandre Pantoja says he would be ready to move up if O’Malley had the belt but Merab changes everything 🤝😆

"Ten pounds for me is much more than other guys. If O'Malley got the belt, then I would say I'm ready to go, but with Merab it's different. Maybe if he comes down to… pic.twitter.com/5Tmf71IQvE
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 30, 2025

Pantoja acknowledged that Dvalishvili is one of the best fighters in the world. He called the Georgian champion a tough opponent for everybody in his division. But Pantoja emphasized it’s not easy thinking about going up ten pounds and believing you can finish someone like Dvalishvili. That weight difference from flyweight to bantamweight represents a huge comparison in size and strength.

Pantoja further pointed to Weili Zhang vs Valentina Shevchenko as a perfect example of why size matters so much. Shevchenko dominated Zhang physically and on the ground for all five rounds, showcasing the disadvantage smaller fighters face against bigger, skilled opponents. That’s completely fair reasoning from someone who understands the realities of weight classes.

The One Bantamweight He Will Fight If He Became Champion

Here’s where things get interesting and maybe a little personal. Pantoja revealed there is one scenario where he would consider moving up to bantamweight: if Sean O’Malley somehow reclaims the championship. Pantoja said if O’Malley got the belt, he’d immediately say he’s ready to go.

“If O’Malley got the belt, I’m going to say, ‘Hey, I’m ready to go.’ But with Merab, it’s different.”

That distinction reveals Pantoja believes he can beat O’Malley despite the size difference but doesn’t feel the same confidence against Dvalishvili. O’Malley’s striking-heavy style and less suffocating grappling approach presents different challenges than Dvalishvili’s non-stop wrestling pressure. Pantoja apparently sees exploitable weaknesses in O’Malley’s game that don’t exist with the current champion.

There’s history between Pantoja and O’Malley from training sessions. Pantoja previously claimed he smashed O’Malley in sparring, while O’Malley’s coach countered that ‘Suga’ put Pantoja down with a liver shot. That gym rivalry adds personal motivation for Pantoja to prove himself against O’Malley specifically if the opportunity arose.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alexandre Pantoja

Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O’Malley

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!