It seems that Alexandre Pantoja has his eye on Tatsuro Taira.
Pantoja most recently successfully defended his title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301 in Brazil in May. Erceg was unable to get a title fight, in part, due to a lack of suitable opponents for the Brazilian champion.
Pantoja already has two wins over Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval and acknowledges he doesn’t yet have a clear challenger for his title with Amir Albazi still recovering from neck surgery, but is eager to defend his title before the end of the year, whoever the opponent is.
“Right now I don’t have a real opponent,” Pantoja said recently on UFC Unfiltered. “I don’t know what’s going on, but…
[to fight] “By the end of the year. Whoever it is, I’ll be ready.”
While Pantoja may not have a specific opponent in mind, he has his eye on Tatsuro Taira, who will face Royval in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas on Oct. 12. With the unbeaten challenger whom Pantoja describes as “a real man,” the flyweight champion feels the Japanese fighter is in a whole other league. In addition to his training partners at the gym, Pantoja also gives special mention to unbeaten 22-year-old Japanese prospect Rei Tsuruta, who won a unanimous decision over Carlos Hernandez in his promotional debut at UFC 303 in June of this year.
“I really want to see Taira perform with Royval. [are] “He’s a tough guy,” Pantoja said. “I have Kyoji Horiguchi and a few other Japanese guys in my gym. [fighters]
I come here to train with the American Top Team. — Motoya, Juntaro
[Ushiku]They are very good [they] Have something
[their] Physically, they are all very strong and always on the offensive. That’s good for me. I know Tyra is a great guy. There’s some young guys. He’s only had one fight at UFC. UFC 303, Ray. [Tsuruya] “Something. A new Japanese grappler, he’s also really good. I’m thankful to America. We’re all bringing in new fighters and training together, so there’s always fresh blood.”
