“Cannibal” appears to be healing quickly.
Earlier this week, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja received a positive medical update from longtime head coach Marcos “Parrumpinha” DaMatta following the gruesome elbow injury he suffered just seconds into his title loss to Joshua Van at UFC 323.
According to DaMatta, imaging showed no bone fractures and no significant ligament damage — a massive relief considering how severe the injury looked in real time. The plan, at least initially, was for Pantoja to undergo physical therapy before gradually easing back into light training.
However, Pantoja may be ahead of schedule.
The Brazilian recently shared footage of himself sparring and lifting weights, signaling that his recovery is progressing faster than expected.
“Victory is being built every day,” Pantoja wrote on social media. “And I have to be better than I was yesterday. I am my only opponent. Gratitude for everything.”
Check out the video below:
While Pantoja and his team have circled summer 2026 as a realistic target for his return, the former champion has made it clear he intends to reclaim what he lost. Given his resume, an immediate title shot would be well within reason.
The loss to Van snapped an eight-fight winning streak that included four Flyweight title defenses — a dominant run that firmly established Pantoja as one of the toughest champions in division history.
