Report: Alexandre Pantoja has elbow injury, not shoulder

Field Level Media|published: Sun 7th December, 13:42 2025

Dec 6, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) fights Joshua Van (blue gloves) during UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Flyweight legend Alexandre Pantoja was confirmed to have a left elbow injury that ended his bout with Joshua Van during UFC 323 at Las Vegas on Saturday, not a shoulder injury as initially believed, Uncrowned reported.

Van was declared champion after the first-round victory and made a case afterward for a rematch in the future.

"It's not just about myself today, it's about Joshua Van," Pantoja said after the bout in a video posted to X, with his left arm in a sling. "That's his destiny, to win this belt tonight. I'm gonna work very hard, and I'm gonna take my belt again."

UFC CEO Dana White said after the fight that Pantoja, 35, sustained a shoulder injury and that Van would move on toward a title defense before a possible rematch with the Brazil native.

On Sunday, Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani reported the elbow injury, "per (Pantoja's) team."

"I've been through worse," Pantoja posted to social media. "I'll come back even stronger, you can be sure of that. Thank you for the messages."

--Field Level Media

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