A rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja is being targeted for UFC 331, scheduled for September 19. The flyweight contest would mark the second meeting between the two fighters.
Reports indicate that UFC officials are targeting a flyweight title rematch between champion Joshua Van and former champion Alexandre Pantoja for UFC 331, slated for September 19. The bout has not been officially confirmed, and the matchup remains unfinished business between two of the division's biggest names.
Van, known as "The Fearless," is the reigning UFC flyweight champion at just 24 years old. The Myanmar-born fighter out of 4oz. Fight Club carries a record of 17-2-0 and has been one of the most explosive strikers in the division, landing an extraordinary 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate. Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, Van operates from an orthodox stance and has established himself as a genuinely dangerous finisher on the feet.
Pantoja, meanwhile, enters as the number-one ranked flyweight and sits fourth on the pound-for-pound rankings. The Brazilian veteran, now 36, trains out of American Top Team and holds a record of 30-6-0 built over a lengthy career at the top of the division. At five-foot-five with a two-inch reach advantage over Van at 67 inches, "The Cannibal" brings a more wrestling-heavy approach, averaging 2.8 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside one submission attempt per 15 minutes — a stark stylistic contrast to the champion.
Why it matters
- Van's elite striking volume against Pantoja's takedown-heavy game sets up a compelling and contrasting style clash
- A Pantoja victory would recapture the flyweight title and likely restore him to pound-for-pound prominence
- The divisional rank-one challenger facing the champion keeps the flyweight title picture clear and consequential
- As an unconfirmed report, the fight's placement on UFC 331 could still shift before an official announcement
Saturday, September 19, 2026
