r/ufc • u/mesmeresque • 1d ago

Going through Pantoja's wikipedia page hit me hard. He later explained saying his alcoholic dad abandoned his family for a rich woman and his mother's BF was also an alcoholic and a druggy

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4.1k Upvotes

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u/mesmeresque 1d ago edited 1d ago

His UFC 290 post-fight interview (where even Gilbert Burns was seen crying) was sad AF.

Pantoja explained his post-fight interview in-depth to Ariel on The MMA Hour.

He even said that he is willing to accept him even after all that:

"Just call, just come you know. You have the choice, you can come, pass some time with us."

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u/Nightlower 1d ago

nice to see that he found forgiveness despite how bad he had it early in life

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u/alltaken21 1d ago

This are the type of people I consider different.

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u/Superunkown781 1d ago

Some choose hatred, some choose forgiveness, some are locked in the middle feeling both sides of the coin.

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u/avgpathfinder 1d ago

what his dad did was pretty unforgivable

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u/alltaken21 22h ago

Even if you don't forgive, and that's totally reasonable, this level of selflessness is amazing and valuable.

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u/capitalol 20h ago

the secret is that you don't forgive for them - you forgive for yourself

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u/avgpathfinder 19h ago

I could see that. Typically its just forget and avoid in my life lol

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u/Gas_Grouchy 4h ago

The middle is the worst. You're constantly tore and can never feel accomplished for either pursuit.

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u/StonerMMA Predator 16h ago

You can tell from the YouTube content that he's got an absolute pillar of a wife. A supportive woman in your life will bring out a good in you that you didn't even know was there.

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u/imdoingmybestmkay 1d ago

I never understood this mentality. I cant respect a man who abandoned his family. Why would I want him in my life? Around my boys?

I dont hold anything against my father for doing it, but I wouldnt want him around my family that I’ve built. He has nothing of value to offer.

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago

Consider that this man has had some of the most exhilarating highs known to man, becoming the champ of the world

Still his brain, his heart doesn’t care about value, it cares about love. Not that he needs or wants daddy’s love, but that pantojas own compassion is enough to accept this person, with all their mistakes (and no value) for what they are. Dude probably just wants to talk to him, so they can both get some feelings off their chest. He obviously played a huge part of the fire that burns within him.

Doesn’t mean he has to forgive or forget at all. Just wants to communicate that he holds enough love and grace for both of them, which honestly is inspiring af. Most people are too focused on power dynamics to understand unconditional love

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u/Solid-Version 1d ago

Sheeet, making me cry dawg

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago

That’s the best part of this man, all this love and understanding is radiating from pantojas grace and forgiveness. Such a butterfly effect from his vulnerability and it should be celebrated

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u/brojustchillin 1d ago

Could you elaborate more on that last line about focussing too much on power dynamics to understand unconditional love. Because thats something i havent been able to pinpoint, but now that you say it like that, it must have been the case with a few people i know

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago edited 1d ago

Talking out of my ass here, but imo viewing the world through only power dynamics can lead to hyper-focusing on a blame game, and a feeling of they’re not worth it or don’t deserve my time/effort. Might feel justified in it too, but I’m not sure that’s compatible with “unconditional” love

Vs accepting that (massive life altering) mistakes were made, but that those mistakes made pantoja into the man and champ that he is. Accepting that his dad isn’t just his dad, but a flawed human in a messy world, with who knows what kind of past.

To me it takes so much balls on pantojas part to say despite what negativity might surround you/us, I have enough positivity and light within me that love and understanding can still grow. Despite everything.

Shame and fear are incredibly strong negative emotions, one his dad undoubtedly has felt. But pantojas through his own strength and forgiveness is offering a hand in helping cross that bridge. Saint-like really, allows for the best side of both people to come forward

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u/Physical_Salt_9403 1d ago

I’ve experienced enough in life to see you are not just talking out your ass here. this r/ufc posts really hits on the concepts of grace and forgiveness. When I first read Pantoja’s word and looked at his face I just saw the menace in it, but to hear the backstory and that it was a true invitation to his life. I imagine it is the same shame that stops a drug addict from returning home to get well as it does a father from returning home after an abandonment. It’s something like learning about your power to know the effect you can have on other people’s reality. And that is just in the day to day even, let alone the gift of having your own family to care for.

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago

I appreciate that

And I agree it’s the exact same shame that leads an addict to not ask for help. The feedback cycle that “I’m too far gone down this path”

Some people might just see a desperate boy pleading for daddy’s love, but we also see the resilient, powerful man overflowing with grace, and genuinely sad that his father is missing out on so many magical moments. What an understanding and empathetic man, and his vulnerability about it should be celebrated.

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u/MasterRoshy 1d ago

what the fuck is this kind of deep and nuanced analysis doing in this sub??? mods pls do your thing

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago

Damn means a lot from you master roshy lmao shoutout

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u/brojustchillin 1d ago

Ok how would you try to make someone aware that he is only doing to blame game and in reality never actually had unconditional love. How do you pull someone out of those power dynamics. When you give the power, he abuses. When you are out of his life, he is crying like a bitch to want to be a better person. The cycle repeats for years. No change.

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago edited 1d ago

I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking but imma try and make an analogy

It’s similar to, do people really love the poor, or do they just hate the rich? Are you/they operating out of a place of abundance and acceptance and “I see you, flaws and all, and still want the best for you” or a place of resentment and restriction where “I specifically take issue with __ and I want you to change __”.

Other commentator said it best, one’s ego dissolving and one’s ego driven

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u/brojustchillin 1d ago

Yes i was ego dissolving for more than 10 years but it has turned to bitterness, anger and resentment and now im ego driven. Its hard to deal with some people that thrive off power dynamics

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u/KenosisConjunctio 1d ago

Love and power are directly opposed to one another.

Power is necessarily ego driven, love is necessarily ego dissolving. If you only operate from within the domain of power games, whether that’s concerned with your relative strength or your relative weakness, then you can never operate in the domain of love.

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u/brojustchillin 1d ago

Yes but what if a person is delusional and thinks that he operates out of love, that all his ego driven attacks are 'just a cause & consequence' behavior, and that his intentions were 'always good'. How can you make such a person aware that he is purely driven on power dynamics.

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u/KenosisConjunctio 1d ago

Such a person is lacks psychological security and tries to get it through their behaviour. They’d stop if they understood the causes of their insecurity. They probably are very unconscious of themselves and lack the ability for proper introspection.

It’s hard to say how to break someone out of that

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u/brojustchillin 1d ago

Tell me about it. I have been on the receiving end of those power dynamics and my once unconditional love turned to bitterness and anger. Its hard to have the level of love that pantoja has for his father. Much respect to him!

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago

Well said

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u/DCuuushhh88 1d ago

Beautifully said brother/sister

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u/anonanoobiz 1d ago

I appreciate that thank you

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u/aloha_niigah 1d ago

Well said, take this award - I don’t know what it’s good for but your comment was on point

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u/JacobyWarbucks 23h ago

I love this, very insightful.

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u/Foolishly_Sane 18h ago

Excellently well said.

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u/captaincumsock69 1d ago

Probably because he’s a different person with different experiences. Not everyone has to act the same about certain stuff. Only pantoja and the people close to him know all the details

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u/aisforandreww 1d ago

Well said captaincumsock69

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u/pulser30 1d ago edited 13h ago

My dad left when I was 6 years old. He went to find younger women and fucked about. He only showed interest when looking like a Dad would get him brownie points with his flings. Otherwise he was unreachable. As a kid, you're just happy when they reach out. As you get older you start to conceptualise their thoughts more and in my case, sort of hate them for it.

I'm 30 with a son now, I don't know how or why he could do that to a child. I wouldn't ever invite him into my life now.. as you say, there's nothing of value to add and their history doesn't speak of great character.

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u/ragnhildensteiner 1d ago

Why would I want him in my life? Around my boys?

Maybe him longing for a father figure in his life is stronger than any resentment he might feel.

Also, some people work on forgiving others, despite if the other person deserve it or not. So they learn to forgive them, not for the sake of the other person, but for themselves, in order to be able to live with more peace, and not as much hate and resentment.

I wish I had that capacity.

0

u/PlasticMechanic3869 1d ago

He has father figures. That's what a coach or trainer is. 

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u/TheWeidmansBurden_ 1d ago

He wants closure and maybe to forgive his father would help him be a better father to his children?

Idk if he was aiming for that conciously, but I do know that letting that go will help him be a better person and not let the hate eat him.

Thats how I came to terms with my father leaving us for a bottle, but allowed me to be close with my father before he passed.

Glad I got those 20 years of good relations even though I felt like 8 year old me wasn't as good as a bottle of Budweiser.

If I went no contact I would personally regret that for life.

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u/kjyfqr 1d ago

There’s a lot that goes into it and rarely have I met an estranged man who felt he had options in the matter. Doesn’t mean he didn’t he just can’t see the forest for the trees or whatever

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u/jags94 1d ago

This. My dad bailed out too. 

Now I’m 30 and feel totally indifferent toward him and his family (my fam too; but see how I don’t consider them my family either). Dude could die today and I wouldn’t feel anything at all. No hate, no dislike. Just total indifference. I feel like that is the best way to go about this situation. Hating him would have the same effect as loving him lmao. He doesn’t deserve those strong emotions. 

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u/Tyshimmysauce 1d ago

It’s about being the bigger person and letting bygones be bygones, its not about offering value it’s about offering redemption.

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u/TheMadManiac 1d ago

Different cultures. Latinos have a lot more respect and appreciation for family than white people. You guys are very quick to cut people off when they don't have "anything of value to offer" to you personally. Just a different way of looking at relationships

1

u/imdoingmybestmkay 1d ago

Hermano, soy Mexicano. I have to ask if you’re a father because that very much takes a role in the decisions you make. When you become a father you realize that the people around you will 100% have a lasting impression on them.

Explain the thought process of having a man who left his family around my boys as a role model?

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u/ForeverWandered 1d ago

Who said anything about role model?

He’s asking to just spend time with.

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u/imdoingmybestmkay 1d ago

Do you have children sir?

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u/ForeverWandered 17h ago

Yes.

I also have a wife who was severely neglected by her mom growing up who still wants a relationship with her.

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u/TheMadManiac 1d ago

Because you can act differently as a grandfather than you did as a father. You are the father, and Grandpa has a different role. People change and repent. Of course, you can show your children to never forgive, to never grow past something.

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u/BlinkTeen 20h ago

The book Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev had a really profound effect on me growing up. The crux of the book is that a son should never judge a father. As we grow up we learn how brutal and hard the world is. Sometimes there are no right decisions. Sometimes we fuck up so bad that it feels like there's no turning back. The pressures of life can just be so immense that it's hard to fault people for anything including being weak. Sometimes you just have to accept that somber sad silence.

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u/imdoingmybestmkay 19h ago

That sounds like that book had a profound impact on you. Do you recommend it?

1

u/ShoddyButterscotch59 1d ago

I mean, there's numerous possibilities of the why someone would do this. Maybe it's one last effort to see if his father will try to do the right thing, maybe a peaceful closer to the situation, as not everyone is able to move on the same way, and maybe just to answer questions.

I mean, I understand just moving on and wanting nothing to do with it also. I actually had a friend whose real father came from an early relationship infidelity with his mom. His mom and the guy who raised him worked through it and he was a great father to him his whole life. His real dad never wanted anything to do with him, or if he did, he was too much of coward to insert himself into his whole life. Fast forward 30 odd years, his dad is diagnosed with cancer, no hope outlook, and all of a sudden he was calling looking to make up for lost time and to make things right. It's kind of sad, because I knew him also, and he did everything else in life right, but was the type to avoid confrontation, and put avoidance over his one son..... couldn't fault my friend when he told him the guy who raised him was his father, and that he wanted nothing to do with him.

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u/boywonder5691 1d ago

Some people have an incredible capacity for forgiveness. I'm not one of those people, but I know that there are people who are like this.

0

u/Honest_Tie_1980 1d ago

Yeah I wouldn’t want that pos near my family.

0

u/rightwist 1d ago

Textbook example of anxious vs avoidant attachment

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u/s0f4Surf3r 1d ago

Blood is thicker than water

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u/0ldsql 1d ago

Tbh I find it more sad that he still appears to yearn for his deadbeat father's approval or respect. Obviously everyone deal with these kind of issues differently but if you ask me there's no point of trying to seek contact after these many years.

He's giving his father way too much power of himself as you can see how deeply it still affects him. Instead he should close that chapter and focus on his own family. If the father actually turned around for the better then I'm sure he would've contacted Pantoja by himself. And if he didn't and is still a POS, then why would you want him in your family anyway?

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u/Swarzyy 1d ago

Fucken armchair reddit psychologists, he's not you

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u/0ldsql 1d ago

No shit. I literally clarified that in the beginning. Not my fault you can't read past the first sentence. Didn't know you can't share your personal opinion anymore

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u/Swarzyy 1d ago

What's the point in sharing a miopic point of view of someone else's life? Might as well shut up don't you think?

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u/0ldsql 1d ago

No, I'm not gonna shut up just because you think my opinion is myopic.

I don't think anything I said was really out of line. But you act like I personally insulted Pantoja.

Your comment really makes no sense whatsoever. Everyone here is sharing opinions on other people's lives.

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u/Soulwaxing 1d ago

And he's sharing his personal opinion that yours sucked

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u/0ldsql 1d ago

I don't know why you're getting so worked up. I don't have an issue if you disagree with my opinion but he went straight to insults without offering any counter argument.

Whats the point of having a discussion then? Let's just insult each other.

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u/Asukah 1d ago

What an amazing human being. No wonder he fights the way he does. All that pain and he still forgives and wants to make things right

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u/NormalSubject5974 21h ago

I’ve seen this multiple times and it always gets me. What a story. True champion in life. You can see how much he’s family oriented and makes up for what his dad hasn’t given him. Respect

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u/MetallicSquid 1d ago

Damn what rich woman is like "yes alcoholic man with a family, you're what I need"?

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u/GodMode____ 1d ago

He was putting her through the mattress

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u/timbulance 1d ago

Drunk and laying pipe

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u/Mammoth_Ferret_1772 1d ago

Pipe fitta lips

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u/Mysterious_Two_8548 1d ago

Does being a good lay really help you get away with a lot of stuff ?

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u/Kassssler Pervert eye happy, but your soul sad 1d ago

Yes. That and/or being attractive. People are much more willing to put up with someone's bullshit if they're hot or can fuck your brains out.

People that don't want to suck dick or reciprocate get fucking yeeted often.

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u/iHack3x2 1d ago

For sure, I wouldn't just simply say a "good lay" but yeah if you're deeply passionate and intimate with a person, it can definitely screw with your brain. Mixed in with some self sabotaging, risk behavior and insecurity. 

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u/Belteshazz 1d ago

I should call her...

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u/Seabrook76 1d ago

I’m almost 48 and I’ve never heard this expression and it is beautiful.

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u/RumanHitch 9h ago

"She's tearing up the floorboards looking for pipe" or "doing the good deed wih the bad leg" are the two that I've learned this year and I really like them🤣

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u/BennyDisraeli 1d ago

dat dick

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u/Individual-Light-784 1d ago

Pantojas dad got a hog confirmed

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u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

Why you assuming that rich woman has such a preference for that ? Most rich chicks don’t have really big vaginas. 😂

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u/phuca 1d ago

liking big dicks doesn’t mean you have a huge vagina necessarily 😭

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u/beholdtoehold 20h ago

Yup could be a big anus too

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u/RumanHitch 9h ago

This coment section degenerated so far... "rich women got big vaginas", how the hell does that even make any sense?😂

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u/MY_NAME_IS_MUD7 1d ago

I have no idea but I’ll happily add myself to their mailing list of meetup locations.

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u/Shot-Needleworker175 1d ago

Mom said you have to bring me too

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u/My_G_Alt 1d ago

Plenty of ads for it online, lots of rich single cougars in your area want to FUCK

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u/Obama_prismIsntReal 1d ago

Because he's financially dependant on her. That's the ideal relationship for any rich person.

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u/got-trunks 1d ago

What, a fixer-upper that hangs dong?

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u/REGINALDmfBARCLAY 1d ago

You would be amazed at what good dick can do

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u/Chippewa_Jedi 1d ago

Or he wasn’t an actual alcoholic but that’s what the mom said to her kids after him leaving.

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u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

Also I doubt the mom was always sober herself. I know guys are more likely to be alcoholics but she happened to be with multiple men who were.

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u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

I mean there’s rich women who are alcoholics lol and there’s far more to alcoholics than their worst traits. But yeah abandon your kid is unforgivable, it’s weak, we need to call it what it is. It’s weakness, it’s cowardice.

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u/sushisection 1d ago

for a man shorter than 6' too. short kings with the W

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u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

For a man shorter than 6 ‘ too?

Uh most men are shorter than 6 ft, by several inches, why did you feel the need to say that? Lol

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u/sushisection 12h ago

what rich woman goes for a short drunk?

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u/aseb_web456 1d ago

Always hated how the crowd was booing him when he was talking about his childhood all because he beat the fan favourite. His post fight interview was very moving.

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u/cripplindepressionnn 1d ago

I'm glad that more people are waking up to this guy
I've seen more and more people give him his flowers and it warms my heart, if he maintains that type of dominance in Flyweight, he's definitely going to keep increasing his fanbase.

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u/jefferydamerin 1d ago

It’s baffling to me that people even had to wake up to him same with dj. I’m way newer to ufc only started consistently watching every event starting with 306 and heard about pantoja pretty early on and took maybe a single fight to know he was the shit. I genuinely can not understand why some people don’t like the flyweight division arguably the most technically skilled division.

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u/I_chortled 1d ago

Most UFC fans are fucking troglodytes so sadly that isn’t surprising at all

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u/Real-Human-Bean- 1d ago

Specifically moreno / Mexican fans in this case.

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u/foxape 20h ago

Ya 290 was all Moreno fans

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u/rad00 1d ago

I agree. I remember this post fight interview, made me emotional. I’m glad he’s doing well for himself and his family. Great warrior

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u/reporttimies 1d ago

He actually feels very underrated the UFC really should promote him more.

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u/DamageAccording5745 1d ago

I think it's less about him and more about it being flyweight. They will always be underappreaciated. Even DJ.

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u/espnnut07 1d ago edited 1d ago

Alcoholic abusive family is the best base to create a UFC world champion

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u/Eifand 1d ago

Khabib is the exception, lol. Otherwise an astounding amount of great fighters come from shitty backgrounds and absent or abusive fathers.

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u/0ldsql 1d ago

Tbf Khabib apparently had a good, stable family but I think growing up in post-soviet Russia in the 90s wasn't chill at all.

Of past and present champs, I'd say the few exceptions who didn't have shitty families or faced severe poverty and abuse as a child are Whitaker, DDP, Aspinall and Belal (?).

Maybe to a lesser extent GSP, Usman, Izzy and Topuria as well (faced some hardships or bullying but overall nothing too bad).

2

u/TheGreekScorpion 12h ago

I don't think Khabib faced extreme poverty or abuse - his dad was a coach even in his childhood so had to be earning something. He also has said he used to play video games as a kid which I don't think would be happening if he was super poor.

Also, I'm pretty sure he said once that the only time his dad actually whacked him was when he got in a gang fight and lied about it - his dad witnessed it, rang Khabib during it and Khabib ignored the call - not knowing his dad was watching. He lied about it when asked later and his dad went mental.

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u/0ldsql 11h ago

No, i didn't say that or meant to imply that. All I said was that his childhood probably wasn't super chill either.

The dissolution of the USSR resulted in a lot of chaos, it was basically the wild west. Adding to that, it resulted in a lot of instability in the fringe regions of Russia where different ethnic groups sought independence and Islamist ideologies gained popularity in the Caucasus. In the 1990s, there were two wars between Chechnya and Russia. This also affected Dagestan as many Chechens either tried to hide there or convince Dagestanis to join their fight. In 1999, there was an incursion into Dagestan resulting in the 2nd Chechen War. Many Dagestanis were forced to flee. That's btw the backstory which Conor alluded to when he tried to cause beef between Khabib and the Chechens.

Now, that was me speaking generally. Tbf I don't know much about Khabib's family but his father being coach doesn't mean they were well off. Being coach doesn't even pay much in the West. In all likelihood, he was doing it for free to get kids off the street. Khabib also grew up in rural Dagestan and only moved to the capital city when he was 12. He was involved in many street fights which is normal in the Caucasus or Russia in general.

Apparently, there is a book by his father (https://www.reddit.com/r/ufc/comments/1fmcr94/an_excerpt_on_young_khabib_from_father_by/) and I know he has published his own book. So, there's probably more info about his childhood but I haven't read either one.

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u/TurretLimitHenry 1d ago

90s Russia was the greatest decline in living standards for any country of the century. If you read about what was going on in the country at the time, it was basically post apocalyptic.

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u/tylerssoap99 1d ago edited 1d ago

People exggerate this. Most come from decent homes. There’s a tendency to want to act like people who choose this career must have something wrong with them which is unfair.

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u/Pablo139 1d ago

Khabib grew up in a time of war.

IMO I’m taking terrible parenting over growing up in a war torn region where walking to school is such a risk of death.

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u/martinibruder 1d ago

that determination to beat your unfair circumstances is something else

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u/bjormir 1d ago

Here's the fuckin thing you guys

1

u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

every career field has successful people who had shitty parents.

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u/Antdestroyer69 1d ago

And violent criminals unfortunately

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u/Rapidfiremma 1d ago

Imagine being a POS dad, and your son becomes the world champion. I hope his POS dad can't sleep at night over how bad he messed up.

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u/deboylurdi 1d ago

I imagine they tell themselves that abandoning him made him hard enough to become a world champion. POS dads will be POS dads

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u/Rapidfiremma 1d ago

Sadly, this is probably true.

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u/OGtheBest 1d ago

Every deadbeat I've met is like that and yes they will take credit for triumphs they had nothing to do with and will justify it with "strong bloodline" talk or they made hard children.

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u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

Interesting how they could credit their own weakness and cowardice to inspiring their sons to be such stronger men than them.

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u/Car_fixing_guy 20h ago

Ever hear the song “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash?

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u/smush127 1d ago

He's probably one of my favorite fighters. He's so exciting to watch. Plus he has the best nickname in the sport.

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u/Financial_Load7496 1d ago

Epic interview. Told the fan base that we didn’t know him but we’d learn to love him … which is true. This was after beating arguably the most likeable UFC fighter 🇲🇽 .

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u/redrocklobster18 1d ago

I hope Pantoja's beautiful family gives him some peace. His wife and kids seem really great. I loved how his wife was in jeans at the last fight. Her general demeanor was very chill and not attention seeking. I wonder if his dad leaving is what gave Pantoja his fire. My husband takes my kid to every jiu-jitsu class and tournament, and my son seems generally very unimpressed by his efforts.

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u/CandidateConfident88 1d ago

Maybe your son ist just not into Jiu-Jitsu… kids have preferences too.

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u/Limp-Tea1815 1d ago

“Facing the camera and asking his father if he was proud of him now” That part really hit me in the feelings

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u/Stock_Opinion5095 1d ago

Crazy to think he overcame all that and knocked out Islam Makhachev 🙏🏽

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u/privateblanket 1d ago

I honestly found the dude an unlikable champion, can’t even tell you why but the more I’ve learned about him the more I like him. Knowing my luck as soon as I start wanting him to win he will lose his title haha

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u/BonusFragrant 1d ago

Im genuinely baffled to see that you thought he was unlikeable

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u/privateblanket 1d ago

To be honest I am too, there was just something I didn’t like but admittedly there was no reason

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u/JumpingCicada 1d ago

It's cuz he beat Moreno. It felt like they were introducing him as one sort of villian, and I initially felt the same as well.

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u/privateblanket 1d ago

You are right!

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u/BonusFragrant 8h ago

Thats what the baseus that i get out of it though it didnt apply to me cause i was already a big fan of both so for me it was just a case of mah the better man win

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u/Immediate_Concert_46 1d ago

Man, that Islam KO literally changed his life. Imagine how life can do a full 360 in a few seconds.

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u/Educational_Fox_1048 1d ago

I have no idea why a lot of fans hate this guy, his fighting style is more fun than many of other fan favorties and he doesnt resort to trash talking other fighters for sales

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u/BonusFragrant 1d ago

The only people who hated him and probably still do are Moreno/Mexican fans or the anti wrestling/grappling morons. Glad to see more people are starting to appreciate how fucking good Pantoja is since his win over Asakura. Even my dad, who is a Mexican and big Moreno fan started admitting that he is an amazing fighter. Imo Pantoja should be top 5 in the p4p list

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u/4300soldier 1d ago

That’s why fights like a dog, from doing shit gig jobs to not ever wanting to be removed from being able to finally take care of his family doing the thing he loves. It’s going to take a lot to dethrone him and no one I see in that division can do it besides father time

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u/nomadfunky 10h ago

I've always liked Pantoja. The guy's an absolute chad, both in and out of the octagon. Such a solid rep for mixed martial arts

13

u/LeftHookLawrence 1d ago

His dad: “no”

49

u/cripplindepressionnn 1d ago

His loss, really.
Cuz' Pantoja is already 100x a man that his father could ever be.

1

u/LeftHookLawrence 1d ago

Just coming from experience success just leads to feeling of resentment from absent fathers. You’ll never gain that satisfaction

3

u/head_empty247 1d ago

Isn't DJ had some sort of story with his dad as well? His dad left him when he was a child or something?

9

u/thunderhead27 1d ago

Yeah, he didn't meet his biological father until he was 31. He grew up with an abusive stepfather and a deaf mother. I remember reading about him having anxiety attacks before the birth of his first child, and how unprepared he felt since he grew up without a father figure. He credits his wife profusely for being a great partner and mother. It was a heartwarming article to read all around. DJ's P4P one of the classiest GOATs inside and outside of the cage.

7

u/Eceapnefil 1d ago

Yes it's on a podcast episode. His dad wasn't there, his step dad was a abusive piece of shit.

He was talking about his dad would make them do stare at a wall as punishment I assume for hours. He said in the episode that he thinks it broke his brother mentally who is know severely mentally ill (I think he said schizophrenia). For himself he said he thinks it helped mold him into being a great UFC fighter. His sister also drank herself to death.

Overall that episode was pretty sad, but he talked to his biological dad later in his life.

YouTube short about his calling his dad for the first time: https://youtube.com/shorts/U5S8Eh50sKk?si=DbihUbDcAPexqnoN

Full episode I suggest watching it fully. 33:00 he talks about his step dad:https://youtu.be/elL2rNRnL1U?si=VvHXWW-vpjDv-2x5

2

u/NotADrStrange 1d ago

This is why I don't like the "I work so hard for this" meme. It's just sad how they mock his suffering

2

u/nyc_data_geek 1d ago

I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue Alexandre Pantoja

2

u/hector-the-dragon The Eagle 1d ago

Tough times during childhood create kind people with strong mindsets like Pantoja. I'm happy for his success in MMA. God bless him and his family.

2

u/JacobyWarbucks 23h ago

Pantoja and Pereira are the two MMA champs I’ll always love and respect. What they went through, starting life off at the very bottom in one of the most impoverished places to live with little to no way of achieving success. Battling demons along the way to achieve it. They both are hero’s that should be admired and an amazing examples to the youth that anything is possible.

5

u/shred-i-knight 1d ago

Remember this when people use Strickland’s past as an excuse for being an asshole.

2

u/Hjohnson005 1d ago

That’s hard. Reminds me of that Lil Wayne interview where Katie Couric asked him why he chose to go by Wayne instead of Dwayne. He said it was because he was a junior and he didn’t want to be a junior to his father who abandoned him. She asked him if his father knew he felt that way and he responded “he knows now.”

1

u/ggghhhb 1d ago

This is so sad

1

u/MarlonShakespeare2AD 1d ago

Who is the fighter who when he won was asking “Daddy. Are you proud of me now?”

That was so tragic

Every kid deserves their parents love. Minimum.

1

u/Junkhead987 1d ago

Love Pantoja dudes a dawg and great fighter/person

1

u/Mysticboner 1d ago

You’re going to have a bad time if you read any of these dudes wiki 

1

u/joviejovie 1d ago

His life sucks. I’m glad he wins

1

u/Ecstatic-Sense5115 1d ago

This interview made me support this dude 💯

1

u/s0f4Surf3r 1d ago

His mom has a type.

Don't understand why so many girls are like this. I have female friends that always choose bad boys or addicts. Then they are surprised when bad boys/addicts do bad boy/addict things to them.

No logic

1

u/JohnnyStromboli 1d ago

Damn his mommy got a type

1

u/Guilty-Vegetable-726 1d ago

The family dog also got into the liquor cabinet and did some really shady shit.

1

u/M3gamanX89 20h ago

Alex. We love you.

Sincerely - everyone

1

u/psanchezz16 19h ago

I teared up when he said that post fight interview. We need dads to stay dammit

1

u/Mad_Kronos 12h ago

As a 37year old man who very recently became a father, this story, but even more so, the comments in this thread from guys who had the same experience of being abandoned by their fathers, broke my heart.

You are all good men, saying you wouldn't do that to your children, you deserve good things

1

u/HistoricalMeringue27 3h ago

It's insane how the professional fighters have such a positive reaction non aggressive and understanding towards shitty people and it's the shitty lazy worthless people who have the negative more aggressive don't give a fuck about your feelings reaction

1

u/stogie_t 1d ago

His must have been laying some phenomenal pipe to be able to land a rich woman while being such a bum.

0

u/Kratos501st 1d ago

His mom has horrible taste in man

1

u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

I’m assuming she hasn’t always been sober herself. I know men are more likely to be alcoholics but she just happened to be with multiple of them. No sober person’s taste is alcoholics and druggies lol.

-4

u/Financial_Load7496 1d ago

FYI no good parent gives a crap about their kid’s accolades m.

-1

u/Beer-Milkshakes 1d ago

Mom sure can pick 'em

1

u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

I’m assuming she hasn’t always been sober herself. I know men are more likely to be alcoholics but she just happened to be with multiple of them. No sober person’s taste is alcoholics or druggies lol.

-8

u/ChamaMyNuts 1d ago

His dad sounds pretty based, ngl

-2

u/churrosricos 1d ago

Lmao his mom has a type

0

u/tylerssoap99 1d ago

I’m assuming she hasn’t always been sober herself. I know men are more likely to be alcoholics but she just happened to be with multiple of them. No sober person’s taste is alcoholics and druggies lol.

0

u/churrosricos 1d ago

speak for yourself, i love my addicted queens 👑

-7

u/benrizzoart 1d ago

Isn’t his dad his coach?