After his UFC 310 win over Kai Asakura, Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja called out Demetrious Johnson, urging him to come out of retirement for a legacy-defining battle. However, Demetrious Johnson’s response was reasonable—he declined the callout.
Johnson has accomplished everything there is to achieve in the sport and is aware of the toll age takes. He’s wise not to let pride lead to his downfall, as has happened to other greats. That’s what it means to have nothing left to prove, and everyone knows it. Mighty Mouse remains the GOAT.
Still, a part of me can’t stop wondering about how their records compare. It’s a debate I’d love to have with my fellow MMA fans—who is the best and who has the better records. So, let’s dive into the comparison.
Let’s start with a physical comparison
Demetrious Johnson is slightly shorter and nearly four years older than Pantoja. He made his UFC debut on April 24, 2010, in World Extreme Cagefighting before transitioning to the UFC. At the time of his debut, he was 23 years, 8 months, and 11 days old.
Pantoja, on the other hand, made his UFC debut on January 29, 2017, at the age of 26 years, 9 months, and 13 days.
Both fighters come from a similar fighting background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Demetrious Johnson holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as does Pantoja.
Pantoja has a slight advantage with a 67-inch reach compared to Johnson’s 66 inches. Additionally, Pantoja leads in leg reach with 67 inches, just one inch longer than Johnson’s 66 inches.
| Fighter Profile | ||
Name | Alexandre Pantoja | Demetrious Johnson |
| Nickname | The Cannibal | Mighty Mouse |
Age | Apr 16, 1990 | Aug 13, 1986 |
Height | 5′ 5″ | 5′ 3″ |
Weight | 125 lbs. | 125 lbs. |
Category | Flyweight | Flyweight and Bantamweight |
Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
Fighting Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Reach | 67″ | 66″ |
Leg Reach | 67 | 66 |
UFC Debut | Jan.29,2017 | Apr. 24,2010 (World Extreme Cagefighting) |
Bout Record Comparison: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Demetrious Johnson
Though Pantoja made his UFC debut later than Johnson, he has fought more bouts in his overall career. With 34 fights, Pantoja has won 29, while Demetrious Johnson has fought 30 times, achieving 25 wins and one draw.
Pantoja boasts a 55% finishing rate, with most of his finishes coming by submission. Impressively, he has secured 16 finishes in the first two rounds. All of Pantoja’s losses occurred in the third round, with five decision losses. Notably, no one has ever finished Pantoja in his career.
Demetrious Johnson, on the other hand, has a 43% finishing rate, and it’s fair to say that many of his fights tend to go the distance.
However, Johnson has higher striking accuracy and exceptional takedown accuracy. His consistent stamina and technical skills make him a complete fighter who excels over five rounds.
Demetrious Johnson has never been submitted in his career but was knocked out later in his career by Adriano Moraes at ONE Championship.
| Bout Record | A.Pantoja | D. Johnson |
Total Fights | 34 | 30 |
Won | 29 | 25 |
Lost | 5 | 4 |
No Contest | 0 | 0 |
Win By Submission | 11 | 8 |
Win By Knockout/ Technical Knockout | 8 | 5 |
Win By Decision | 10 | 12 |
Striking Percentage | 50% | 54% |
Takedown Accuracy | 47% | 56% |
First Round Wins/Losses | 10/0 | 4/0 |
Second Round Wins/Losses | 6/0 | 3/1 |
Third Round Wins/Losses | 10/5 | 8/1 |
Fourth Round Wins/Losses | 0/0 | 1/0 |
Fifth Round Wins/Losses | 3/0 | 9/2 |
UFC Career Comparison
The UFC is widely regarded as the best fighting organization in the world, so how did these two perform against top-level competition?
Pantoja slightly edges ahead in win percentage, with fewer fights in the UFC.
However, when it comes to consecutive wins, Demetrious Johnson is far ahead. He remained undefeated in the UFC for seven years, with an impressive 13-fight win streak (2012–2018).
Pantoja, on the other hand, is currently chasing Johnson’s record, with a streak of 7 consecutive wins (2021–present).
| UFC Records | A.Pantoja | D.Johnson |
Total Fights in UFC | 16 | 21 |
Fights Won in UFC | 13 | 17 |
Fights Lost in UFC | 3 | 3 |
Consecutive Wins in UFC | 7 (2021-present) | 13 (2012-2018) |
Total fight time in UFC | 03:22:26 | 06:16:39 |
Average fight time in UFC | 00:12:39 | 00:17:56 |
Win Percentage in UFC | 81.25 | 80.9 |
Knockout Wins in UFC | 2 | 2 |
Submission Wins in UFC | 5 | 6 |
Decision Wins in UFC | 6 | 9 |
Striking Record comparison
Pantoja lands more strikes per minute (4.41) compared to Johnson (3.43), but he also absorbs more (3.92 vs. 1.66).
Johnson has better striking defense, avoiding 67% of strikes compared to Pantoja’s 50%.
Both fighters are most effective when striking on their feet, with Pantoja landing 81% of his strikes standing, while Johnson is more balanced, landing 56% standing and 31% in the clinch.
| Significant Strike records in UFC | A. Pantoja | D.Johnson |
Significant Strikes Attempted | 1783 | 2362 |
Significant Strikes Landed | 893 | 1291 |
Sig.Str.Landed per minute | 4.41 | 3.43 |
Sig.Str.Absorbed per minute | 3.92 | 1.66 |
| Most Significant Strike landed in single bout | 129 vs. Brandon Moreno | 133 vs. Ali Bagautinov |
Sig.Strikes by Position (Standing) | 719 (81 %) | 726 (56 %) |
Sig.Strikes by Position (Clinch) | 93 (10 %) | 400 (31 %) |
Sig.Strikes by Position(Ground) | 81 (9 %) | 165 (13 %) |
Sig.Strikes by Target (Head) | 565 (63 %) | 586 (45 %) |
Sig.Strikes by Target (Body) | 191 (21 %) | 400 (31 %) |
Sig.Strikes by Target (Leg) | 137 (15 %) | 305 (24 %) |
Significant Strike Defense | 50% | 67% |
Each has had standout moments, like Pantoja landing 129 significant strikes against Brandon Moreno and Johnson landing 133 strikes against Ali Bagautinov.
TakeDown Records
In terms of takedowns, Demetrious Johnson and Alexandre Pantoja showcase different strengths.
Johnson is known for his incredible grappling, with an average of 3.35 takedowns per 15 minutes and a career-high of 14 takedowns in a single fight against Kyoji Horiguchi.
Pantoja averages 2.74 takedowns per 15 minutes, with his best performance being 9 takedowns against Steve Erceg.
| Takedown Records | A.Pantoja | D.Johnson |
Takedown Avg.Per 15 minutes | 2.74 | 3.35 |
Submission Avg.Per 15 minutes | 0.9 | 0.5 |
Takedowns Landed | 37 | 84 |
Knockdown Average per 15 minutes | 0.3 | 0.16 |
Most takedowns in Single Bou Most takedowns in Single Bout | 9 vs. Steve Erceg | 14 vs. Kyoji Horiguchi |
Submission Attempts in Career | 12 | 13 |
Highest Submission in Single Bout | 2 vs. Brandon Royval | 3 vs. Tim Elliott |
Johnson also attempts more submissions overall, with a higher average per 15 minutes (0.9 vs. 0.5), including a career-best 3 submission attempts in one fight.
Demetrious Johnson UFC Title Wins
Demetrious Johnson has 12 title wins that too against top legends like Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez, John Dodson, Ray Borg and Henry Cejudo. He has been a champion for record breaking 2142 days.Johnson became the first UFC flyweight champion in 2012. After that, he defended his title 11 times in a row, breaking the UFC record for most title defenses, which was previously held by legendary fighter Anderson Silva.
This incredible achievement made Johnson one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, no doubt about it.
In the year 2018, Henry Cejudo ended Johnson’s Dominance by defeating him in a split decision at UFC 227.
After this loss in UFC Demetrious Johnson was traded to One Champion, He fought in Bantamweight and featherweight Division in this Organisation and won flyweight championship and defended it successfully.He retired after a his title defense against Adriano Moraes on May 5,2023.
A.Pantoja UFC Title Wins
Pantoja defeated Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 to became a UFC flyweight champion at the age of 33 years 2 months. Since then he has been dominant champion and defended 3 times. As a champion Pantoja has fought top fighters like Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg and Rizin Champion Kai Asakura.
| Title Defense and other records | A.Pantoja | D.Johnson |
Title Fights | 4 | 14 |
No of Title fight wins | 4 | 12 |
Title Reigns | Jul.08,2023 to present | 2142 days |
No of Main event fights | 2 | 11 |
No of fight of the night awards | 2 | 3 |
| No of Performance of the night awards | 4 | 4 |
No Of Successful Title Defences | 3 | 11 |
Age at the Time of First Championship | 33 years 2 months 22 days | 26 years 1 months 9 days |
Demetrious Johnson’s Losses in the UFC
Demetrious Johnson first fight in the UFC Known as WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) was a loss.He lost against Brad Picklett via Unanimous decision on Apr.24,2010.
The weight Division is Bantamweight.Pickett was more dominant on the ground, using well-timed takedowns and counter-strikes.
Johnson showed good kickboxing but was unable to defend Pickett’s takedowns. The judges scored the fight 30–27, 30–27, and 29–28 in favor of Pickett.
Demetrious Johnson vs Dominick Cruz (Oct.01,2011)
Title fight for Mighty Mouse.Dominick Cruz defeated Demetrious Johnson via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 50-45) to retain the UFC bantamweight title. Johnson’s speed and relentless pace kept the fight competitive, but Cruz’s superior grappling, takedowns, and positional control secured him the victory in this action-packed, high-level contest.
Demetrious Johnson vs Henry Cejudo (Aug.04,2018)
Henry Cejudo won the fight by unanimous decision with a score of 48-47, claiming the flyweight title from Demetrious Johnson.
The fight was a closely contested battle, with Johnson controlling much of the early rounds with his strikes, including low kicks and body kicks.
However, Cejudo showed resilience, especially in the later rounds, where his pressure, grappling, and effective counter-striking earned him key moments.
His ability to close the distance and secure a takedown in the later rounds was pivotal in securing the decision victory. Cejudo’s performance in the fifth round, where he swung for the fences and landed solid strikes, likely contributed to the judges scoring it in his favor.
Alexandre Pantoja’s Losses in the UFC
Vs. Dustin Ortiz (Jan.20,2018)
This was Pantoja’s third fight in ufc. Pantoja dominated early, controlling Ortiz on the ground and threatening with a rear-naked choke. Ortiz escaped and turned the tide in the second round with clinch work and top control. In the third, Pantoja repeatedly took Ortiz’s back, but Ortiz fought his way out and finished strong with heavy strikes and a takedown to secure the judges’ favor.The victory ended Pantoja’s 11-fight winning streak and marked Ortiz’s second straight win.
Vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (Jul.27,2019)
Deiveson Figueiredo defeated Alexandre Pantoja via unanimous decision (30-27) after an intense three-round battle at UFC in Edmonton, Alberta.
Pantoja pushed forward relentlessly, but Figueiredo’s power and precision made the difference. Figueiredo landed heavy hooks, elbows, and counters that bloodied Pantoja and even dropped him in the second round. Pantoja kept fighting until the end, landing hard shots as Figueiredo slowed, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Figueiredo’s dominance.
The thrilling contest earned “Fight of the Night” honors.
Vs. Askar Askarov
Askar Askarov earned a close unanimous decision victory over Alexandre Pantoja (29-28 on all scorecards) after a grappling-heavy battle at UFC.
The fight started with intense grappling exchanges, with Pantoja attempting submissions and taking Askarov’s back in the first round. In the second, Askarov’s relentless takedown attempts kept Pantoja on defense. Both fighters were visibly fatigued in the third, but Pantoja dropped Askarov briefly with a punch, leading to striking exchanges that were evenly matched.
The closely contested fight ended with Askarov maintaining his unbeaten record and edging Pantoja on the scorecards.
Demetrious Johnson’s Opponents and their Rankings
Demetrious Johnson has faced a wide range of tough opponents throughout his career, with an average opponent rank of 10. From his early fights against fighters like Brad Pickett and Nick Pace, to battling top-ranked challengers like Joseph Benavidez, Henry Cejudo, and Dominick Cruz, Johnson’s career has been filled with high-level competition.
Opponent Name | Opponent Rank | D.Johnson’s Rank | Date |
| Brad Pickett | 17 | 30 | Apr / 24 / 2010 |
| Nick Pace | 89 | 62 | Sep / 30 / 2010 |
| Damacio Page | 16 | 46 | Nov / 11 / 2010 |
| Norifumi Yamamoto | 19 | 17 | Feb / 05 / 2011 |
| Miguel Torres | 5 | 15 | May / 28 / 2011 |
| Dominick Cruz | 1 | 7 | Oct / 01 / 2011 |
| Ian McCall | 1 | 11 | Mar / 03 / 2012 |
| Ian McCall | 3 | 2 | Jun / 08 / 2012 |
| Joseph Benavidez | 1 | 2 | Sep / 22 / 2012 |
| John Dodson | 3 | Champion | Jan / 26 / 2013 |
| John Moraga | 6 | Champion | Jul / 27 / 2013 |
| Joseph Benavidez | 2 | Champion | Dec / 14 / 2013 |
| Ali Bagautinov | 8 | Champion | Jun / 14 / 2014 |
| Chris Cariaso | 11 | Champion | Sep / 27 / 2014 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 7 | Champion | Apr / 25 / 2015 |
| John Dodson | 4 | Champion | Sep / 05 / 2015 |
| Henry Cejudo | 4 | Champion | Apr / 23 / 2016 |
| Tim Elliott | 9 | Champion | Dec / 03 / 2016 |
| Wilson Reis | 7 | Champion | Apr / 15 / 2017 |
| Ray Borg | 4 | Champion | Oct / 07 / 2017 |
| Henry Cejudo | 2 | Champion | Aug / 04 / 2018 |
Pantoja’s Opponents and their Rankings
Alexandre Pantoja has faced a strong group of opponents, with an average rank of 14. He has fought against top-ranked fighters 7 times, including his victory over Brandon Moreno, who was ranked number 1, to win the UFC Flyweight title. Pantoja’s ability to defeat high-ranked opponents, such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Askar Askarov, showcases his skill and determination in the flyweight division.
| Opponent Name | Opponent Rank | Pantoja’s Rank | Date |
| Eric Shelton | 29 | 23 | Jan / 28 / 2017 |
| Neil Seery | 37 | 20 | Jul / 16 / 2017 |
| Dustin Ortiz | 12 | 23 | Jan / 20 / 2018 |
| Brandon Moreno | 6 | 19 | May / 19 / 2018 |
| Yuta Sasaki | 21 | 9 | Nov / 17 / 2018 |
| Wilson Reis | 7 | 4 | Apr / 13 / 2019 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 5 | 3 | Jul / 27 / 2019 |
| Matt Schnell | 7 | 4 | Dec / 21 / 2019 |
| Askar Askarov | 7 | 5 | Jul / 18 / 2020 |
| Manel Kape | 16 | 6 | Feb / 06 / 2021 |
| Brandon Royval | 10 | 4 | Aug / 21 / 2021 |
| Alex Perez | Not Ranked | 4 | Jul / 30 / 2022 |
| Brandon Moreno | 1 | 3 | Jul / 08 / 2023 |
| Brandon Royval | 6 | Champion | Dec / 16 / 2023 |
| Steve Erceg | 15 | Champion | May / 04 / 2024 |
| Kai Asakura | 24 | Champion | Dec / 07 / 2024 |
If you’re a UFC fan and enjoyed this article, don’t hesitate to share it with other Pantoja or Demetrious Johnson fans!
Vignesh Subrmanian doesn’t just watch sports, he dissects them. A former college athlete with a stat-cracking obsession, he dives deep into the numbers, analyzes player tendencies, and crunches data to deliver insights that leave you breathless.Vignesh will help you discover who’s the best and win every sports debate with fellow fans!
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