Tension was thick in the air as Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van faced off, setting the stage for an explosive UFC 323 showdown! Damon Martin, a seasoned combat sports journalist since 2003, gives us the inside scoop.
Even though there might not be any personal beef between UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van, their faceoff after the pre-fight press conference told a different story. Pantoja, laser-focused and determined to defend his title for the fifth time at 125 pounds, locked eyes with Van, radiating intensity.
In stark contrast, Van met the champion with a smile, almost as if he were already celebrating victory, aiming to become one of the youngest champions in UFC history. But here's where it gets interesting...
The main event, however, was a bit more subdued. Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan shared a quick faceoff, then turned to soak in the crowd's applause. Dvalishvili, basking in the Las Vegas fans' affection, confidently tossed his bantamweight title over his shoulder, promising Bruce Buffer's final call would be, "and still," as UFC 323 concluded.
Adding to the mix, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo enjoyed one of the final faceoffs of his illustrious career, announcing his retirement plans after his fight against Payton Talbott.
Interestingly, Talbott and Cejudo had previously trained together, but Talbott vowed to send Cejudo into retirement with a loss. Cejudo took the opportunity to thank those who helped him achieve success, including a special acknowledgment of UFC CEO Dana White, who was absent from the pre-fight press conference on Thursday. Could this be a sign of things to come? What do you think about the different approaches to the faceoffs? Share your thoughts below!
