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.<\/p>
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<\/a> 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.<\/p> 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.<\/p> “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?”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>Why Alexandre Pantoja Won’t Fight Merab Dvalishvili<\/h2>