Pantoja's Coach Says He Needs Mental Rest After Van Loss

Alexandre Pantoja will remain on the sidelines indefinitely following his September rematch loss to flyweight champion Joshua Van at UFC 331, his coach said this week.

American Top Team's Marcos "Parrumpa" da Matta told Sherdog the former champion requires an extended break before contemplating another UFC booking, with no firm plans to resume competition before 2027. Da Matta cited both physical wear and psychological strain from consecutive title camps stretching back to 2023 as the primary concerns.

Former Champion Needs Extended Break After Title Rematch

"Pantoja is at a moment where he needs to rest — not just his body, but his mind too," da Matta said.

The Brazilian dropped a unanimous decision to Van in their second meeting after losing the belt at UFC 323 last December, when an arm injury forced him out just 26 seconds into the opening round. Da Matta said the circumstances surrounding both fights — the injury recovery, the pressure of a rematch, and the unrelenting pace of preparing for five-round championship bouts — left his fighter mentally drained.

With nearly 40 professional mixed martial arts bouts on his record and years of high-level training camps behind him, Pantoja's age and accumulated mileage make recovery periods more critical, the coach said. The team's priority is allowing the former champion to decompress completely before addressing his competitive future. Da Matta said they might begin discussing potential matchups later next year, but only after Pantoja has had time away from the gym and the mental demands of elite-level preparation.

Pantoja held the flyweight title from July 2023 until his injury loss to Van last December.

Original reporting:

• sherdog.com — Alexandre Pantoja needs mental rest after Joshua Van loss, coach says