Pantoja wasn’t higher than Steve Erceg at UFC 301

Demetrious Johnson shouldn’t be bought on UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) retained his flyweight title by outlasting Steve Erceg in Saturday’s UFC 301 predominant occasion at Farmasi Enviornment in Rio de Janeiro.

Johnson thinks Erceg (12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) leant an excessive amount of into Pantoja’s sport which value him.

“He actually simply gave the battle away by attempting to wrestle a man who can’t field,” Johnson stated on his YouTube channel. “That is the most important factor: I believe it simply comes from expertise for Erceg, simply not having expertise of ending somebody when you understand you’re beating the hell out of them.

“Finish of the battle, nice battle. I believe Erceg gave that battle to Pantoja. I believe if Erceg would have stepped behind his jab, cease f*cking wrestling him, he would have been high-quality.”

Johnson thinks Erceg inflicted extra injury than Pantoja, who was sliced open courtesy of an elbow by the Aussie. After watching the battle, former longtime UFC flyweight champion Johnson didn’t see Pantoja as a step above Erceg as a fighter.

“I used to be impressed by Steve Erceg,” Johnson stated. “I truthfully thought Alex Pantoja was going to get his again and end him. Steve Erceg was the higher striker. He did far more injury in that battle in opposition to Alex Pantoja. I believe Steve Erceg simply didn’t get going quite a bit sooner. I felt like he made some dangerous selections within the battle. … Steve Erceg was destroying Alex Pantoja on the ft. Alex Pantoja was bloodied up.

“Sure, Steve was getting hit, however these photographs weren’t important sufficient to make Steve fear about his standup. Then Steve would shoot a double leg in opposition to the higher grappler, the higher scrambler. That’s what I felt allowed Alex Pantoja to remain within the battle and win the battle. After I was watching the battle, I didn’t really feel like Alex Pantoja was a greater fighter. He’s the champ. His grappling is his strongest swimsuit. However when you hold him away from his grappling, you possibly can make the most of him.”

Johnson pointed to current UFC flyweight champions Deiveson Figueiredo and Henry Cejudo as extra spectacular fighters than Pantoja throughout their run.

“After I take a look at the previous champions, after I take a look at Figueiredo – absolute wonderful champion,” Johnson stated. “(He had) energy, nice athleticism. After I take a look at Henry Cejudo, he would transfer, and transfer so good, he’s ending folks.

“And after I take a look at myself, I used to be shifting, ending folks. After which after I take a look at Pantoja, it’s nearly like he’s getting by the battle. He’s not excelling by the battle. It’s not like he’s getting stronger because the battle goes on.”