After calling out Demetrious Johnson for a comeback fight, Alexandre Pantoja may need to consider other options for his opponent.
The UFC flyweight champion triumphed over Kai Asakura at UFC 310 on Saturday night, then immediately challenged one of the sport’s greatest fighters ever. Johnson, who retired earlier this year after a successful run in ONE Championship, where he won bantamweight gold, has been out of active competition.
Pantoja has already made a significant mark in the 125lb division, with Asakyra, who joined from RIZIN without ever competing in the UFC emerging as a contender. Now Pantoja aims to face the best of all time to solidify his legacy.
Pantoja Calls Out Demetrious Johnson After UFC 310 Win: ‘Come Back and Prove You’re the GOAT!
After his victory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Alexandre Pantoja spoke with Joe Rogan in the octagon about his next move. Initially, it seemed like his most likely opponent would be number one contender Brandon Royval. However, Pantoja has already beaten Royval twice, the first by stoppage in 2021 and then with a five-round decision in their second fight.
Instead, the Brazilian made a surprising choice during his callouts;
Instead, the Brazilian made a surprising choice during his callouts.
“There’s a special fighter who doesn’t fight anymore,” Pantoja told Rogan. “But I have to say this to you, Demetrious Johnson: I’m the GOAT here. If you want to prove you’re the GOAT, come back!”
Dana White Open to Demetrious Johnson’s Potential UFC Return After Pantoja Callout
Demetrious Johnson left the UFC in 2019 as part of a ground-breaking trade with ONE Championship. He moved to Asia, while Ben Askren came the other way and became one of the most talked about welterweights in recent memory.
Since joining ONE, Johnson has experienced moderate success but officially retired on September 6th in Colorado. If a potential final UFC fight is to happen, Dana White would be the key to making it a reality. During his post-fight press conference, he didn’t seem opposed to the idea.
“I don’t know,”
Dana White responded when asked about the possibility of one last fight for the legendary former champion.
“That’s interesting. Listen, I was the one beating the drum about Demetrious Johnson a long time ago, so yeah, I don’t know.”
Demetrious Johnson Turns Down $2 Million Offer for One More Fight.
Fans were eagerly waiting to see how Demetrious Johnson would respond to the callout on social media. While his retirement in September seemed sudden, his emotional speech appeared genuine, since then, he has transitioned into a successful career as an analyst and streamer.
It seems, however, that Johnson is not interested in making a comeback to face Pantoja. He has revealed that he had already turned down a seven-figure offer for one more fight. Speaking on X, Johnson posted;
“Guys, I got offered 2 million dollars to fight!! I turned it down. I don’t care to fight anymore. YouTube video dropping soon.”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
