Alexandre Pantoja will get his rematch against flyweight champion Joshua Van in the UFC 331 main event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19. Arman Tsarukyan returns to face Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event, with the winner potentially in line for a lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje. The main card also features Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo Ho Choi, Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega, and Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski.
The UFC 331 main card is official, with flyweight champion Joshua Van set to defend his title against Alexandre Pantoja in a highly anticipated rematch on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Van, 24, carries a 17-2 record into the bout and has quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic champions in the flyweight division. The Myanmar-born fighter out of 4oz. Fight Club is known for an extraordinary striking output, landing 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the most prolific volume strikers in the promotion. Pantoja, a former flyweight champion himself, enters looking to reclaim the belt he once held.
The co-main event adds significant lightweight stakes, as Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy with a potential title shot against Justin Gaethje on the line for the winner. Ruffy, 30, holds a 14-2 record and is currently ranked seventh in the lightweight division. The Brazilian representative of The Fighting Nerds has built his reputation on sharp striking, connecting at a 58 percent accuracy clip while landing 4.19 significant strikes per minute across a 75-inch reach.
Also featured on the main card, Brazilian legend Patricio Pitbull steps into the Octagon against Doo Ho Choi at featherweight. Pitbull, 39, carries a 37-9 record and brings nearly two decades of elite combat sports experience into the bout. The Pitbull Brothers product mixes his output with a takedown threat, averaging 1.49 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Renato Moicano meets Brian Ortega in what promises to be a compelling grappling-heavy matchup, and Alonzo Menifield takes on Iwo Baraniewski to round out the card.
Why it matters
- Van vs. Pantoja 2 puts the flyweight title on the line in a rematch with unfinished business between two former champions
- Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy serves as a de facto lightweight title eliminator, with Gaethje's belt at stake for the winner
- Pitbull's UFC debut against Choi pits a Bellator all-time great against proven Octagon competition at featherweight
Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja
See the AI pick, live odds and the full matchup breakdown
Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy
See the AI pick, live odds and the full matchup breakdown
Saturday, September 19, 2026
