Alexandre Pantoja ready for Joshua Van rematch after arm injury

Alexandre Pantoja has recovered from the arm injury that ended his UFC flyweight title reign and wants another crack at Joshua Van.

Pantoja lost his belt to Van in the co-main event of UFC 323 last December after rolling awkwardly on a caught kick just seconds into the bout. The Brazilian injured his arm in the scramble and could not continue. Van defended the title in May with a fifth-round stoppage of Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 while Pantoja rehabbed.

Pantoja targeting Van rematch before Kape

The former champion told MMA Fighting he returned to training two days after the injury with one working arm. "I'm not done," Pantoja said, per MMA Fighting. "I have so much to conquer. I have so much to prove. And when you have the belt, your words [mean more]. I want to take the belt again."

Pantoja praised Van's stoppage of Taira as proof the flyweight division ranks among the UFC's most entertaining. He also called Manel Kape's knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Vegas 119 a beautiful performance and acknowledged Kape as one of the weight class's most dangerous fighters. But Pantoja insists he deserves the next title shot ahead of Kape.

"Of course, I have unfinished business with Joshua Van," Pantoja said. "Like, as an athlete, I know I lost the fight. That happened. But like a man, I don't think he beat me. I'm still here. I'm ready to fight. I'm in amazing shape."

No date has been announced for Pantoja's return or Van's next title defense.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Alexandre Pantoja gives update on return: ‘I have unfinished business with Joshua Van’