I’m a UFC champion but just two fights ago I was driving for Uber Eats – money was short and I’d do it all again
ALEXANDRE PANTOJA has had one hell of a journey – going from working for Uber to the UFC title in just two fights.
The Brazilian edged out a split-decision over Mexico’s Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 to become flyweight champion.
But just two years ago, as recently as his bout against Brandon Royval in August 2021, Pantoja was delivering Uber Eats.
He said on The MMA Hour: “That’s about sacrifice for me.
“I won the fight with Manel [Kape] and used the money as down payment for the house, and bringing my family back was the most important for myself.
“Money was short, and my wife started to clean houses, and I started to drive Uber Eats. But I’d do this again if I needed, you know?
“It’s not just about myself, this is about my family and my kids, my two boys.”
Pantoja, 33, only quit his Uber job after submitting Royval, 30, which earned him the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
He revealed: “One week before the fight, I’m delivering Uber Eats, it’s raining and I’m sick.
“When I go to fight week I’m very sick, and I’m very scared of getting Covid again.
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“And I just prayed it’s not Covid, because I just had one month for my bills, you know?
“When I made weight and everything is OK, I just say thank you for God, because I had a knee injury, my ACL was completely broken, and I was sick, but when I got the money of the fight I know it was OK, I had six months to live.
“But then I won the fight, and I won the bonus, I can have surgery and relax for a couple of months and recover good.”
Having helped secure his families future, Pantoja insisted winning UFC gold was just the icing on the cake.
He said: “I’m happy because I get the belt and everybody knows my history.
“That’s very important to me because a lot of guys like me, maybe thinking they never can come to the belt.
“Before I fight for the belt, I said on fight week I don’t need the belt, I have everything I need, my kids and my life, I have all the love I have, and I don’t need the belt to say I’m the champion.
“This belt is for everybody helping me to this moment.”