Alexandre Pantoja needs to rest his mind and has no return timetable, coach says

Marcos da Matta told Sherdog the former UFC flyweight champion may not think about fighting again until next year after losing his rematch with Joshua Van.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Mon 2 Nov, 01:13 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Quote card reading: not just his body, but his mind too, from Alexandre Pantoja's coach Marcos da Matta — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Alexandre Pantoja has no timetable for a return after losing his rematch with Joshua Van at UFC 331, and his American Top Team coach says the former flyweight champion needs a break for his mind as well as his body.

Marcos "Parrumpa" da Matta told Sherdog that they might not begin considering another UFC fight until next year.

"Pantoja is at a moment where he needs to rest — not just his body, but his mind too," da Matta said. "That fight with Joshua Van took a lot out of him mentally, for several reasons."

The coach pointed to Pantoja's recovery from injury and the build-up to the rematch as reasons for the break, along with the workload of recent years.

"Since 2023 we've been running camp after camp with all those five-round fights," da Matta said. "That takes a toll on a fighter who already has nearly 40 MMA fights and isn't a kid anymore."

He added: "So now he needs to rest, we have no timetable at all for his return. First rest his body and especially his mind, and then, maybe next year, we start thinking about fighting again."

Pantoja lost the title to Van at UFC 323 in December 2025 after suffering an arm injury 26 seconds into their first meeting. Van retained the belt by unanimous decision in the September rematch.

Van's next defence is against Manel Kape at UFC 336 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on 30 January.

In this story

Alexandre Pantoja Joshua Van Manel Kape