Alexandre Pantoja may find himself back in a UFC flyweight title fight if doctors clear him for an earlier return. Last weekend, “The Cannibal” put his title on the line against Joshua Van in the UFC 323 co-main event.
However, what had the potential to become a record-setting fifth defense of the 125-pound title quickly unraveled when Pantoja suffered a gruesome injury that ended the contest almost as soon as it started. The moment occurred as Van caught his leg on a head kick attempt, causing the Brazilian to crash to the canvas and land in a way that severely compromised his left arm.