LAS VEGAS – If all goes according to plan, Alexandre Pantoja hopes to be fighting for a title by the end of the year.

Pantoja (23-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) meets Brandon Royval (12-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 29 card in a pivotal flyweight clash between ranked contenders.

With Askar Askarov sidelined due to injury and Deiveson Figueiredo losing his title handily to Brandon Moreno in their rematch, Pantoja is looking to emerge as the next title challenger with a win over Royval.

“I want to fight three times this year,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie during media day at the UFC Apex. “This is my second fight this year, and I think if I win maybe I can get the title shot. Maybe 2021 is a good year for me, but first I have a good challenger on Saturday.

“Brandon Royval is an exciting fighter, and when the UFC gave me this fight, I really appreciated it because he fights like me. It’s a good style. He comes to fight – it’s not just to score. He comes to fight to prove himself, and I think on Saturday him and I will make a big, big show.”

Newly crowned champion Moreno doesn’t see a clear cut No. 1 contender. But with Pantoja currently holding two wins over Moreno, he hopes the storyline is intriguing enough to secure him a shot at gold.

“I think Moreno said that because he respects all the guys in the division,” Pantoja said. “But of course, if I win Saturday … I hope I win. I worked a lot with my team, and maybe it’s a good fight for the UFC to see me again with Moreno.”