Joshua Van defends his UFC flyweight championship against Alexandre Pantoja in a high-stakes rematch at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Saturday night headliner follows a first meeting in December where Van claimed the belt after Pantoja suffered an arm injury less than thirty seconds into the bout.
The main card for UFC 331 gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the main card streaming exclusively on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET. For viewers without an existing subscription, the platform offers monthly tiers starting at $8.99 for Essential and $13.99 for Premium, alongside annual subscription options priced at $89.99 per year for Essential or $139.99 per year for Premium, with seven-day free trials available for both plans.
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja Rematch the First Meeting
When Joshua Van captured the flyweight title in December, he became the second-youngest UFC champion. Yet that milestone arrived carrying an asterisk among fans and analysts alike. Van caught a kick from Pantoja and pushed him to the ground, where the former champion injured his arm catching himself, losing the match by TKO.
That conclusion set the stage for a rematch in Los Angeles. Van entered the weekend as a slight betting favorite with a -135 moneyline compared to Pantoja at +114, according to odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 18. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone tracked a -136 moneyline for the champion against a +106 return for the challenger.
While the first meeting left questions unanswered, Van quieted skeptics during his first title defense in May when he made the necessary mid-fight adjustments to hold off and finish Tatsuro Taira in their five-round war, ultimately winning by TKO during the fifth round with a front kick and a handful of surgical punches. Now sitting at a 17-2 record, the young champion aims to prove his dominance against a seasoned veteran. Pantoja, boasting a 30-6 record at age 36, is still considered one of the sport’s best flyweights of all time after taking the belt from Brandon Moreno in 2023 and successfully defending the title four times, winning the final two with a rear-naked choke.
Arman Tsarukyan Returns Against Mauricio Ruffy in the Lightweight Co-Main Event
The co-main event carries title implications for the lightweight division as top contender Arman Tsarukyan makes his return to the Octagon against rising contender Mauricio Ruffy. Tsarukyan was previously scheduled to fight for the lightweight title also in Los Angeles in January 2025 against Islam Makhachev, but an injury during his weight cut forced him to withdraw.
Packed Fight Card Features Notable Veterans and Prospects in Los Angeles
Beyond the championship headliner and the lightweight co-main event, the Crypto.com Arena showcase packs several high-profile clashes across multiple weight classes. Featherweights Dooho Choi and Patricio Pitbull square off in a compelling matchup. Choi is riding a three-fight win streak with all three coming by TKO, while Pitbull is considered among the greatest fighters in Bellator MMA history after holding two divisional titles in his legendary career.
In the heavyweight division, Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson continues his professional mixed martial arts journey by facing fellow prospect Sean Sharaf. Steveson commands a massive -2100 odds advantage against Sharaf at +1100. Plus, a stoppage is likely in the main card opener when Iwo Baraniewski takes on Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight brawl.
The preliminary card features additional action, including Charles Jourdain versus Marlon Vera at bantamweight, Tai Tuivasa taking on Robelis Despaigne at heavyweight, and Michael Aswell Jr. meeting Joo Sang Yoo in the featherweight division, alongside middleweight bouts featuring Ryan Gandra against Ozzy Diaz and Edmen Shahbazyan facing Brunno Ferreira, plus Casey O’Neill taking on Eduarda Moura in women’s flyweights and Joanderson Brito meeting Giga Chikadze in the featherweight division.
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