Anyone who thinks flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is taking his upcoming title defense against Joshua Van lightly is mistaken.
"When I was 23, I was working in a restaurant in Arraial do Cabo, hungry for an opportunity. At this age, Van will be fighting for the world championship belt. The guy proved he deserved that beating the No. 1, so it will undoubtedly be my biggest challenge," the champion told Sherdog.com.
The greatest proof of the champion's focus on the current training camp was his absence from UFC Rio.
"Obviously, I wanted to be there with my country's fans, in my hometown,” he said.