Alexandre Pantoja (left) and Steve Erceg (right)(image via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

It remains to be seen who Alexandre Pantoja fights next. But, if the UFC’s flyweight champ had his way, he’d battle the former UFC champ, and legend, Demetrious Johnson.

Pantoja (28-5) defended his flyweight crown for a second time last weekend at UFC 301, by working his way to a hard-fought, unanimous decision win over Steve Erceg. Since that fight was the Brazilian’s third in less than one year, Pantojas has said he plans to take a break.

Following his latest win, Pantoja appeared on “The MMA Hour”. While discussing hopes for his next fight, the 34-year-old made it clear that facing Johnson would be a dream come true (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“He’s the GOAT. How can I not say that?” Pantoja said. “I think right now, I think [with] two title defenses, I can speak a little bit about that [fight], because I have huge respect for Demetrious Johnson. I can’t try to compare myself with him. And I think right now I can say something, I have more [credentials] to put on the table [than before], and I think that’s a dream for me. I don’t like to say I have dreams, because I want to live everything I have in my life. I think to live is better [than] to dream, you know? But if I’m dreaming of something, it’s a fight with Demetrious Johnson.

“If he doesn’t [want the] fight, maybe I go to the gym and train with him or [have] a hard sparring [session with him]? I don’t know. But I have so much respect for him.”

Johnson (25-4-1) ruled the UFC’s flyweight division from 2012 through 2017, and set a record for defending the title 11 times in a row. The 37-year-old remains under contract, however, with ONE Championship.

While discussing the UFC’s title shot picture, Pantoja mentioned contenders like Erceg, Muhammad Mokaev, Amir Albazi, Moreno, Brandon  Royval, Manel Kape and Alex Perez, as to why he feels it’s an “exciting” time in the division.