The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Alexandre Pantoja CLAPS BACK at Kai Kara-France, calls for SUBMISSION

Episode Date: June 28, 2025

Alexandre Pantoja IS BACK on the DC Check-In series with Daniel Cormier, and he claims despite multiple title defenses, he's as good as "he's EVER BEEN!" Pantoja talks about the rematch with Kai Kara-France from their first early encounter on The Ultimate Fighter, and why Kara-France has to be ready for a MUCH BETTER fighter today. Plus, Pantoja speaks on the GOAT conversation with him and Demetrious Johnson, and why today's era of the division is the most difficult it's ever been. And don't miss Alexandre explain to DC why he always shows up late to practice! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This is the champ Alessandre Pantosia. Defend his belt this weekend against Kai Kar-France. How you doing, champ? Everything going good? I was good, man. I was good. I'm super excited to fight, you know. I love coming to Vegas to fight.

That's going to be my fourth time fight for the belt here in the same arena. Yeah. I feel like Elvis Presley, come to make a big show here. Everybody expects a beautiful night, International Fight Week. Yeah, man. So your last fight, dominant performance. Was that what you expected going in? Because you not only won by submission in the second round,

You had success on the feet in the first round, and that was where he was expected to hold the advantage. I think I'm improved. I'm still improving myself, you know. I'm still learning. I'm humble. I go to the gym every day. I'm still learning how to throw the jab.

I'm still learning how to choke people. That's myself, man. I try to my best version all the time. And I'm not expecting to finish like that because all the time, I put my opponent, like the best of the world. I train for that position, you know. And I have the one more time. I have the opportunity to be the champion of the world.

Yeah. So you've won six fights inside the top 15. You beat three guys inside the top five. Now you have three title defenses. You're on the verge of title defense number four. Now, so long, we would not even entertain the idea that there could be another guy in the goal conversation at 125 because of Demetrius Johnson. Are you ready to kind of go, hey, I'm right here.

It's time to people to start taking notice that a couple more title defenses, you should be in that conversation. Yeah, but I don't like to say this comparison because dementia is also fighting the different time, you know, the different flyweight time, you know. Now we have a... Is it a better time today? Oh, yeah, man. The guy's a much better at flyweight you believe today than when he was.

I don't want to say the better, but you have more athletes. Yeah. Now with the internet is super fast, everything. You see Kara Sakura, he guys bring him because he's super excited. You see that guy, Josh Yvonne. Why are he country? Oh, Myanmar. You know, from far away, but he has opportunity, you know. Fight the number one contender. He could be next if you guys both win. If you see my division, you have holy word there. If you hit, you see top 10 guys, guy from Africa, guy from Asia, Japan. You have a guy from Australia, from New Zealand, all different countries, you know. And I don't want to respect the old generation because I'm living, I'm born and see all the guys fighting. Moraga, Benavis, Joe Dodson, and everybody, he opened the door for us, you know.

And I think right now we'll make a statement for everybody in the world. People talk bullshit before about the flyweight. Things are different right now, you know. Yeah. I know that. It's the best year for a flyweight division, you know, so many good cards, so many main events. And I'm the champion of the war, you know. That's super cool.

So how do we go about putting you into that conversation? Because for me, when I watch you, I feel that you're just unbelievably underappreciated. I don't think that people give you the respect that you deserve for what you've done. And I don't know that, I mean, even the popcorn rankings, you're number nine right now. I think that you should be way higher than that. Dana always said rankings are stupid, right? Because he just doesn't believe that the people that are responsible for them understand the assignment. So how do we go about having that conversation if you say we can't really like compare the errors?

Right now, it's so hard to keep the belt, you know. You have so many good fights everywhere. If you're good, I don't know what's going to bring you to the UFC. It doesn't matter if you go to, you're from China, you're from Venezuela. It doesn't matter. If you're good, you're going to put you in the show, you know. And that's how I say it's very difficult right now. Defend this belt.

What I did right now in the Flatweight is crazy, man. This division is so hard to keep this belt. I beat Moreno and Reval a couple times, and these guys beat everybody. beat everybody else. Yeah. Nobody passed for their guys, you know. Well, Moreno still won.

He just won again. Put himself back in position where it might be a fourth fight between you two. I'm ready for that on again, you know. I think everybody wants to watch that again. And I don't understand people say Patoj is underrated because everybody wants to watch my fight. They all love watching you,

but it's like I think that we should hold you in higher regard, man. Everybody should. Every time we talk about fighters and champions, I always go, And Pantosia. You know, like, and Pantosia, and Pantosia, because I think you are winning in a way that, I mean, you know, you go through the hard ones, you go through the easier ones,

and you're still the champion. This weekend you have another opportunity to defend that championship against the guy you fought before. Pachar-France fought you on the ultimate fighter. That was a long time ago. Is there anything you can take from that fight, or are you two just completely different fighters and you have to prepare yourself for another guy.

All the fights different, yeah, same guys, with same guys. Me and him, when you go to the Ockron, he's going to remember. I'm winning him one time. But all the fights different. It doesn't matter. It's 50-fifth all the time. It doesn't matter who you're fighting. It's 55th all the time.

And what I want in that fight is an opportunity to show everybody how good I am. And I have this opportunity in the International Fight Week. Yeah. one of the big card of the year. And that's what I want. I want that fight so bad. I want to fight with the high-level guys. And Carcara fans prove he's a high-level guy.

He knocked him out everybody and he put him in that position, you know. And I want that, you know. He's a Maori style. Yes, he is. Warrior. Everything else. His country with him. That's what I want.

I want to prove myself all the time. You have beaten so many guys, as I said early. is that why we're getting Kai Asakura fighting for the belt where somebody else is coming in or Kai Kar-France because Kai Kar-France knocked out Steve Erzeg, which was crazy. It was a great performance. But prior to that, he had lost two fights. He Instagram messaged you telling you he wanted a title fight. Because you've been so dominant, is that why we're getting you fighting these guys where a guy wins once? And it's a new matchup, so we see him and there with Pantosia. That's something very nice to have, you know.

I gave hope to a whole division. Everybody win the fight, call my name because, you know, maybe he can put in the front and go to fight for the belt, you know. I give this opportunity for everybody in that division because I beat everybody. Yeah. And everybody else think he has this position. You see Josh Yvonne right now, he got the tickets, you know. The gold ticket for the Winnie Wonka Fabric.

The guy, he found the ticket, you know. And now I'm going to fight with Reval. If he passed for Reval, he's the next, you know? That's so nice to have that, you know. That's my last fight, my fight before a Sakuta is like Steve Versaegg. Steve Versaig, another guy that... Top 10. Yeah.

And fight forward to me. And then guys bring in a Sakura, and I beat him too, you know? That's super nice, man. I'm very proud myself. My team, everybody worked very hard to that position. You and I sat in the Apex one time. I don't know who you had just beat. Did you beat Manel Kopp already?

It was that close fight, right? You had a close fight. You beat Manel Kopp, and you called for a title fight. Brandon Moreno was sitting at the desk, and you won so many times before you ultimately finally got that title shot. But now you're just gifted championship fights. Is that because of what you went through to get there? Is that why?

Because you had to wait so long? You have to beat so many people that you're like, hey, man, you went, okay. Come on. I'll fight you. With Moreno? With everybody. Like, I mean, you waited for your title fight. For sure.

You fought everybody. It was this guy. And then, how many fights did he win before he got a title fight? Five. Yeah, you could have got it after two, because you beat the best guys. Now guys are getting title fights after one. Did you, are you, do you understand, I don't really want to make these guys wait. If they want to fight, they can get a fight with the champ.

That's nice, you know, that's, I want to fight with the new guys, of course. But what I think right now, doesn't matter it's going to be a rematch with the Moreno or Reval, the best fight need to go to the fight. Yes. The best guy need to fight for the belt. That's what I think. Calcarey is putting his deposition right now. Everybody wants to see a new blood.

Of course, I beat him before, but nobody remember of that a long time ago. But maybe I won Caracara France and maybe Reval won the Joshua. This makes sense, fighter to Reval again. Everybody agree with that. You know, Roeval coming for two wins. Maybe he got a third victory right now. Who's going to say Roeval don't deserve that fight, you know? All right, guys.

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Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it.

And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

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on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. So I'm going to read you something from Kai Kar-France. You ready? Oh, yeah. He can't keep me down.

I'm too fast. and that you will get sloppy. And when you get sloppy, you'll open up opportunities for him to get the finish. He also says that he respects you, not being disrespectful, but he's coming for your head. And that you'll get sloppy

and that'll open up opportunities for him to finish you, something that no one's been able to do. What do you think when you hear that? Make me motivation, you know. Kakarfinis is a very good fighter. But I never live in the comfort zone, you know. If he wants bringing me to that place, I bring him to the deeper waters, you know. And I'm not sure he can breathe that, you know.

If he thinks he can, like, defend my grappler, he's wrong, man. I improved a lot. After nine years I fight with him in the Third Ultimate Fighter, I'm involved so much. I'm involved so much because now when the champion of the war, you know. And Saturday nights, I'm fighting with another guy. My last fight, I fight with the Kai Sakuda, and I have a Kaikar Friends. But he's going to finish with the same thing.

I'm going to win the fight. Maybe with the needlechoke again. Oh, you think you'd take him down, huh? Oh, yeah, I know. He's got the highest take down the fence in the division, but not many can stop you from getting them to the ground. And once you get them on the ground, get the back, I mean, you're dangerous. I'm in the right position.

Oh, you know my cornice. You know my jean. Jim. Yep. You know everything I need to pass through to get this position and I have so much more to conquer, you know. And I read to the high level guys and I'm super excited to that fight. I just want to say guys expect the best version from Pantosia with my new shorts. Oh, those are nice champ. Those shorts are nice champ. You design those? Yeah, it's my tattoo. Hey, those are nice. Nice color, too. Nice black and red, little red and gold. Ready to buy, guys. You sold out soon.

They're going to sell out very soon. I'm going to get a pair for my son. He'll love those. You spoke a little bit about the hardships that you've gone through in your life. To be living this life now, right, as the champion, comfortable, taking care of your family.

What does that mean for a kid that went through all that you went through to get to this point? Man, I love it. I love to look to the past. see everything I need to pass through to get this position you know every bus I need to take yeah every uh metro I need like a take every hard situation you know sometimes don't have money to to feed myself you know need to travel three hours to go to

new Niyun training with Josea Aldo Hernan and all the guys I do I did a lot you know I did a lot to get the position right now and so crazy because I see because I see before it's much easier right now you know because in the past I need to working I needed to do a lot of stuff and right now just focusing myself you know I just go to the gym I live like a four minutes from them really you know yeah I'm and I still get um come I care I'm still get you from me because he gets at late I'm live four Brazilian time still late hey Brazilian time dude he trains at 10 he gets there 959 he's already late right yeah you gotta get you gotta get there

You got to get that like 940. I try. Hey, but listen. But all this is something happening. I will say this, Pohumpa. I will say this. 9.59 is on time. Bro, one time when I first started training,

I went to train with Verdume, Nogera, and all these guys. Practice 10 o'clock. They showed up at 11. Bro, 11 o'clock. They roll into the gym. Everybody's just waiting. I was like, what is this?

First time I heard Brazilian time. You used to hear colored people with that. You know black people always late. First time I heard Brazilian time, y'all worse than us. I'm not late for myself. You're late, bro. Hey, he's got to wait for the chance. That's my life.

That's my time, yeah. This is the champ. The champ's like, hey, I'm one minute early. Champ. He used to give an example. I'm the example. I train very hard, man. You train hard.

Oh, yeah, man. He knows that. Yeah. When I'm the gym, man, I, like Cabo, I put to all my life, man. And after the practice, sometimes I have fever, you know, because I'm training very hard every day, man. I will say this, though,

9-59 you show up, you don't have your gear on until 10-15, right? No, no, I go with my clothes on. Oh, you wear it. Sometimes I drive the car, your raps. Your raps, Mike. He walks in at 9-59 with his wraps on, Pupa? That's a different ballgame.

If he walks in with his wraps on, this dude shows up, and I see him. Hey, this dude shows up with his head gear on. You're driving with your headgear on. With my gloves. This is crazy. He shows up ready to go. Champ, I'll let you go on this one.

What does Saturday night look like? How does this fight end? And what is going to be the emotion from you and your team from America's top team after UFC 317? A gift, man. I have a gift to fight for that company, you know, to UFC give him the opportunity to go to the inside of the O'Cagon and fight for million people. You know, that's what I want. That's why I leave my life. life I have my kids in the crowd my wife with me I mean like I pray to the

victory all the time and I'm not I'm not a genius to know what's gonna happen you know but I'm gonna I want to try so bad to win this victory you know and bring the back to to my home you know to my people and with celebration it in me out my man thank you for checking it again Guys, the champ Alessandra Pantosia defends this championship this weekend, gets Kai Carl Front UFC 317. Make sure you go to ESPN Plus. Hit that purchase button.

Hey, Ridge Boy right here wants more money if you buy those pay-per-views. And no forget my shorts. Oh, and get his shorts. He actually wants you to buy those shorts. Yeah. And right now, I'll buy my shorts on the phone. Yeah. I'll get it.

Right now, I'll buy two. All right, I'll buy it through from the champ. Make sure you're tapping on what he's doing. Everything Pantosia. Like, subscribe. Tell you friends I got a YouTube channel and don't miss UFC 317. Until next time, peace. All right, guys, so we just wrap with Charles Dubronk Solivaura.

This is my Roe Performance Playbook presented by Roe Sparks. Guys, 15 minutes to work. Pop that Role Sparks pill under the tongue. It dissolves right there. You only got to wait 15 minutes to get right to the action. And these guys are going to get to the action on Saturday night in the main event for Charles Oliva. If he wants to become the champion for the second time,

He has got to be the one taking the center of the octagon. When Charles O'Levara has his most success, Dustin Poyer, Michael Chandler, he is the advancing party. And for Ilya to become the champ. He has got to find ways to trap Olavera and get him backing up. We know that Charles is durable. We know that he is a guy that can win off of his back, but we also know that he can be hurt. And if Teporea gets you going backwards and makes you strike in boxing, he can put anybody's

lights off. This is a massive fight. Both of these guys are primed and ready to go and become the lightweight champion in the world. We're going to see who can get the job done. Hey, and for you to get the job done, visit my folks out at Rose Sparks. They'll take care of you. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it up. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick.

Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel.

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. In every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source

the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12

in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns

of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garros. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.