The ‘Rocky' Quote Alexandre Pantoja Is Leaning On After His Latest Crushing Loss

Alexandre Pantoja is turning to a legendary fictional character for guidance after a brutal setback in the UFC 331 main event. The former flyweight champion, Pantoja (30-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC), just couldn’t reclaim his title against Joshua Van, losing a unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47). Ouch.

This wasn’t Pantoja’s first go-around with Van, who now sits at 18-2 MMA, 11-1 UFC. Pantoja had lost the flyweight title to Van back in December at UFC 323, a fight where he injured his arm and went down in a shocking 26 seconds. This rematch was supposed to be the real test, the chance for redemption. Instead, it was another loss, this time a decision. With back-to-back defeats to the current champ, who’s also got a title defense over Tatsuro Taira on his record, Pantoja’s path back to contention is looking tough.

After Sunday’s loss, Pantoja didn’t hide. He went straight to social media, sharing a long quote from Rocky Balboa about perseverance. His own message, beyond the powerful words from “Rocky,” was simple and heartfelt: “Thank you all for your words and continued support.” It’s a reminder that even champions face moments like these. This guy fought his way to the top, winning the title in 2023 against Brandon Moreno with a split decision, then defending it against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France before Van pulled off that upset. He’s been there, done that, and he’s got the champion’s heart.

What’s next for Pantoja? He’s got a long climb ahead to get back into that title picture. It won’t be easy, but if anyone can channel that Rocky spirit and push through, it’s a fighter with his resume.

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From the source Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.