Will Pantoja be victim of the same disrespect that Demetrius Johnson faced???

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

I think all you Sherbums can agree that Pantoja is one of if not the most dominant reigning champions in the sport. He has an incredibly well rounded skillset. He has beat the shit of his contenders. He earned his titleshot fair and square. He has exciting fights. He accpets all comers. He never duck opponents. He is fairly active. He gets finishes. Unarguably the second greatest 124er of all time with a very real possbility of challenge DJ's status in th near future. And yet he is not held to same regard as other champions. Like how the hell is this guy ranked #11 in the PFP list. He is easily TOP 5 and I would argue TOP 3. Yes over Poatan.

Demetrius Johnson had the same issue despite being the PFP#1 best fighter in the sport. He was never truly given his flowers until after he left the UFC. It seems as though Pantoja is quickly following this path.

I know some people will say it's because he's Flyweight but Figuerdo and Moreno were given massive amounts respect as champion. And if destiny had been diffferent and either of those two guys were the ones to be going on this legendary run instead of Pantoja I feel like fans would have eleavted them in status. Yet Pantoja receives none of this rub.

Is it personality? Is because he doesn't talk trash? Is it because he doesn't have any major beefs???

 

[RockyLockridge]

the fact that he's not ranked atleast 4 in p4p tells you he's not respected by the mma viewing public

 

[oski]

Yeah, these guys are only slightly more relevant than wmma in the overall scheme of things. It's just a weird on the surface to make these guys or girls the main on cards where literally everyone else on the card could literally obliterate them.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

main on cards where literally everyone else on the card could literally obliterate them.

This is objectively false

Figgy and Cejudo have proven Flyweights can beat TOP Banatmweights

There is only a 10lb difference between weight classes

 

[Koro_11]

No, because he’s actually beating some legit opponents.

 

[WokeWarrior]

NO...... trust me on this...
sure other countries in the world or the American fans might disrespect him.
or Dana eventually might try to bully him over contract negotiations, and created narratives on him,
HOWEVER unlike Mighty mouse Pantoja has a country in full of support of him. And they will not tolerate disrespect in anyway form or fashion with they fighter.
unlike america, Brazil will always have their fighters back..
I envy that. so regardless of how Pantoja is overlooked or if his gate sales are low once they book him in Brazil
you will see him being embraced and getting treated like a KING that he is ...

 

[Hdfi]

Pantoja is becoming popular among brazilian fans or they wouldn't be watching his fight at 3am.

 

[fortheo]

Fans complain that we don't have long reigning champs anymore because champs always want to challenge for a new belt after one defense, yet when we do get long time defending champs, the fans complain about the divisions being weak. That division is not weak -- pantoja is just truly a good champ.

long story short: fans are never happy.

 

[Mammothman]

He is alright but I just can't care about him

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

He is alright but I just can't care about him

May I ask the reason??? His skill level? His size? His personality? His fighting style?

 

[Mammothman]

May I ask the reason??? His skill level? His size? His personality? His fighting style?

All those things are good, I'm not sure if he suffers the same issue as DJ that was the lack of interesting competition.

 

[Lee Danger]

IMO his fights are more enjoyable than DJ's, DJ's biggest problem was IMO lack of competition: he's always looked two levels above everyone.

 

[rjmbrd]

Fans complain that we don't have long reigning champs anymore because champs always want to challenge for a new belt after one defense, yet when we do get long time defending champs, the fans complain about the divisions being weak. That division is not weak -- pantoja is just truly a good champ.

long story short: fans are never happy.

By roster depth flyweight is shallow. That much is objectively true.

Currently at 45 total in the division, and that includes signing Asakura to get Pantoja a random fight.

By comparison, lightweight has 110 on the roster. That is more than double the depth.

IMO flyweight is so good because because at least in part - guys that size aren't eligible for other sports, and the speed and athleticism is very evident.

 

[fortheo]

By roster depth flyweight is shallow. That much is objectively true.

Currently at 45 total in the division, and that includes signing Asakura to get Pantoja a random fight.

By comparison, lightweight has 110 on the roster. That is more than double the depth.

IMO flyweight is so good because because at least in part - guys that size aren't eligible for other sports, and the speed and athleticism is very evident.

Lightheavyweight and heavyweight, actual weak divisions, not only have less quantity on the UFC roster, but I'd argue they have less quality fighters too, and by a long shot. Featherweight also has a similar amount of fighters on the roster. I'm not arguing that flyweight is the strongest division, but I don't see it as a weak one at all. Also, flyweight would have far more fighters in the division if the UFC signed more talent and tried to actually build the division instead of being wishy washy and partially getting rid of it. There's plenty of Flyweight talent out there.

 

[Fahcough]

He is alright but I just can't care about him

Can understand this. Last night was the 1st time I watched 1 of his fights. Usually have no care to sit through a 125 bout. Turned it off soon as it ended, interview didn't even matter what was said.

 

[forsh]

unlike america, Brazil will always have their fighters back..

What does that even mean....the former and soon to be president of the U.S. even shows up to fights. That same person helped the UFC when it was just starting. Fighters in the U.S. get the same support as anywhere else.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

Lightheavyweight and heavyweight, actual weak divisions, not only have less quantity on the UFC roster, but I'd argue they have less quality fighters too, and by a long shot. Featherweight also has a similar amount of fighters on the roster. I'm not arguing that flyweight is the strongest division, but I don't see it as a weak one at all. Also, flyweight would have far more fighters in the division if the UFC signed more talent and tried to actually build the division instead of being wishy washy and partially getting rid of it. There's plenty of Flyweight talent out there.

Its crazy how many HW/LHW geet away with being garbage just because they are big.

 

[HHJ]

The division is better of than it was on DJ's day. People got to see how good some of the guys Pantoja has beaten really are.

The problem is he's beaten them ALL already and there's no one new.

 

[fortheo]

The division is better of than it was on DJ's day. People got to see how good some of the guys Pantoja has beaten really are.

The problem is he's beaten them ALL already and there's no one new.

They should bring over the actual best japanese guys now in horiguchi and ougikubo. I'm a big fan of Asakura, but it was odd to bring him over instead of horiguchi. Hell, ougikubo even has a win over pantoja.

 

[El Fernas]

They choose to let him headline a PPV over a way, way, more interesting fight, thats respect from the UFC.