Uber Eats Driver to UFC champion: Alexandre Pantoja recalls his journey

11 July 2023

In a remarkable display of resilience, Alexandre Pantoja triumphed over numerous obstacles to finally earn his long-awaited opportunity to compete for the UFC flyweight championship.

Just two years prior to his title win over Brandon Moreno, Pantoja found himself working as an Uber Eats driver, demonstrating the lengths he had to go to reach his ultimate goal.

The monumental moment arrived at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, where Pantoja emerged victorious over Moreno in the co-main event, securing the coveted 125-pound gold. Reflecting on his journey during an episode of The MMA Hour on Monday, Pantoja revealed that he had to take on a second job in Florida amidst the challenging circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to support himself.

Notably, Pantoja had already showcased his exceptional skills by defeating Manel Kape via decision in February 2021. This victory came just months after a disappointing loss to Askar Askarov in the initial series of Fight Island events held in Abu Dhabi, where he served as a backup fighter for a title bout between Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez. Struggling with financial constraints, Pantoja made the difficult decision to send his wife and children back to Brazil temporarily.

For eight arduous months, Pantoja endured the solitary grind in Florida while juggling his responsibilities as an Uber Eats driver. Remarkably, just days before his UFC showdown against Brandon Royval in August 2021, Pantoja was still tirelessly delivering meals to make ends meet.

“That’s about sacrifice for me. I won the fight with Manel and used the money as down payment for the house, and bringing my family back was the most important for myself. Money was short, and my wife started to clean houses, and I started to drive Uber Eats. But I’d do this again if I needed, you know? It’s not just about myself, this is about my family and my kids, my two boys,” he said during MMA Hour (h/t MMA Fighting)

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