The sentimental side of me wanted to put Robbie Lawler here as soon as he won his fight last Saturday, but how could I not select Alexandre Pantoja as the big winner from the UFC 290 card? Showing skill, grit, determination, Fight IQ and everything in between, Pantoja made the most of his long-awaited shot at the bantamweight title in beating Brandon Moreno in an instant classic. Of course, it takes two to make a fight like this, so kudos to “The Assassin Baby,” as well, but on this night in Las Vegas, it was all Pantoja, who, like Moreno, proved that nice guys can finish first.
RELATED: Bonus Coverage | UFC 290: Volkanovski vs Rodriguez
