UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van squares off with former champion Alexandre Pantoja in the main event of UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Van won the title in just 26 seconds at UFC 323 when Pantoja injured his elbow, then successfully defended against Tatsuro Taira by TKO at UFC 328 in May. Van has acknowledged skepticism surrounding his championship-winning stoppage and says the rematch will settle whether the victory was a fluke, while also expressing frustration at Pantoja's public comments downplaying the loss.
Joshua Van will put his UFC flyweight title on the line against Alexandre Pantoja in a highly anticipated rematch headlining UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Van, 24, captured the flyweight championship in stunning fashion at UFC 323, stopping Pantoja in just 26 seconds after the Brazilian suffered an elbow injury. The Myanmar-born fighter then proved the title run was no accident, defending successfully against Tatsuro Taira by TKO at UFC 328 in May. Now carrying a 17-2 record, Van has been candid about the doubt that followed his lightning-quick title win, stating publicly that this rematch is his opportunity to silence those who view the victory as a fluke. He has also voiced frustration over comments Pantoja made downplaying the stoppage. Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, Van is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, landing 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate.
Pantoja, nicknamed "The Cannibal," enters at 30-6 and remains the division's top-ranked contender. The 36-year-old Brazilian out of American Top Team carries a pound-for-pound ranking of fourth in the world and brings a well-rounded skill set into the rematch, averaging 4.36 significant strikes per minute alongside 2.8 takedowns and one submission attempt per 15 minutes. At five-foot-five with a 67-inch reach, he mirrors Van physically, making the stylistic contrast in pace and output all the more compelling.
Why it matters
- Van's 26-second title win left the division without a definitive answer; a full fight will establish real pecking order at 125 pounds
- A Pantoja victory would make him a two-time flyweight champion and cement his place among the division's all-time greats
- Van's elite striking volume against Pantoja's grappling and submission threat sets up a sharply contrasting style matchup
- The Los Angeles main event gives the flyweight division a marquee platform it rarely receives
Saturday, September 19, 2026
