UFC 290: Twitter reacts to Alexandre Pantoja claiming flyweight title in highly-praised war with Brandon Moreno
As if the UFC 290 card couldn't get any more exciting as it lives up to the hype, Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja put on a bloody showdown as they went toe-to-toe, vying for the UFC flyweight championship.
In the end, only one man was able to come out on top, and that was Pantoja, who walks away the new UFC flyweight champion.
For five straight rounds, the two battered one another, busting each other open but refusing to back down from the other's attack. Pantoja, however, was able to threaten the champion throughout the first round — though Moreno fired back with a dominant display in the second round.
The remaining three rounds, however, saw Pantoja strategically try to limit Moreno's striking with his takedowns and grappling, searching for a choke a number of times. Ultimately, Moreno still had his moments where he seemed to get the better of Pantoja, causing crazy debate over how the judges would score the fight.
One judge gave Moreno all but one round, but the other two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Pantoja, making him the new champion.
UFC 290: Twitter reacts to Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2
Brandon Moreno fans seeing Alexandre Pantoja walk out to Many Men #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/6CU3HfBk3T
— Jason Williams (@jasoneg33) July 9, 2023
I'm going to need a fourth fight between Pantoja and Moreno. #UFC290
— Flyin' Brian J (@FlyinBrianJ) July 9, 2023
Moreno and Pantoja with Fight of the Night and potential leader of Fight of the Year. #UFC290
— Daniel Yanofsky (@DanYanofsky) July 9, 2023
Alexandre Pantoja: “my mom take care of me and my two brothers alone. Now dad, are you proud of me dad?”
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) July 9, 2023
That’s deep. #ufc290
pic.twitter.com/cYqSm6zwK4
Have a strong feeling that Pantoja’s just fucking got this. #UFC290
— The Acting OF Kingmaker (@OFKingmaker) July 9, 2023
“ANDDD NEWWWW”
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) July 9, 2023
Me:
#UFC290 pic.twitter.com/6cmd6Ahqt1
If you don’t respect what Pantoja just did tonight you don’t respect this fucking sport. What a performance. What a war. I’m lost for words. Recognize the real. Pantoja is real. Pantoja is him. #UFC290
— Pauli.♤ (@MMAPauli) July 9, 2023
Honestly shocked that was a split decision. Seemed to be a clear 4-1 or 3-2 Pantoja. #ufc290
— The Acting OF Kingmaker (@OFKingmaker) July 9, 2023
Huge fan of Pantoja. Absolutely champion caliber. Well deserved and earned. I just love Moreno. Congrats to the champ. #UFC290
— Clint MacLean (@DieHardMMAPod) July 9, 2023
Man, I'm emotional for Pantoja 😭 🇧🇷 you did it mf🔥 #ufc290 pic.twitter.com/UT0hJZwThK
— Anurag Tiwari 🇮🇳 (@anuragtiwari703) July 9, 2023
Though this is their second official meeting, it's actually the third time that Moreno and Pantoja have faced off. The two first met in 2016 on the flyweight season of The Ultimate Fighter, with Pantoja winning by submission. They then met in May 2018 on a UFC Fight Night card, with Pantoja earning a decision win.
This was the first fight for Moreno since recapturing the UFC flyweight championship, winning it back in his quadrilogy bout with Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 in January.
Pantoja came into this fight off a 91-second submission of Alex Perez at UFC 277 in July.
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UFC 290 takes place on Saturday, July 8, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Follow along with FanSided MMA, who is on site, for all your live news and highlights.