Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja Targeted for UFC 331 on Sept. 19

Multiple sources report that UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van is being targeted to defend his title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331, scheduled for September 19. The matchup has not been officially confirmed, and should be treated as a developing report.

Van, 24, carries a 17-2 record and holds the flyweight title, making him one of the youngest champions on the UFC roster. The fighter from Myanmar, who trains out of 4oz. Fight Club, has earned a reputation as an exceptionally active striker. His output of 8.84 significant strikes landed per minute is among the highest in the division, and he connects at a 56 percent accuracy rate, underlining both his volume and precision.

Pantoja enters the picture as the division's top-ranked contender and sits fourth on the pound-for-pound rankings. The Brazilian veteran carries a 30-6 record and brings a wealth of championship-level experience to the table. At 36, training out of American Top Team, the former champion known as The Cannibal lands 4.36 significant strikes per minute but offsets a more measured striking output with considerable grappling pressure, averaging 2.8 takedowns and one submission attempt per 15 minutes of action.

Why it matters

• Van would be putting the flyweight title on the line against the division's top-ranked challenger, giving the bout immediate championship stakes
• Pantoja's pound-for-pound ranking means a win for Van would carry significant weight beyond the 125-pound division
• The stylistic contrast is sharp: Van's high-volume striking against Pantoja's takedown-heavy, submission-threatening grappling game sets up a genuine styles clash
• With both fighters standing five-foot-five, neither holds a meaningful height advantage, though Pantoja's two-inch reach edge could factor in the striking exchanges