Joshua Van defeated former champion Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision in their flyweight title rematch at UFC 331, which took place over the weekend at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Van went the full five rounds to retain the UFC flyweight belt, with ESPN’s fight center listing the result as a unanimous decision after 5:00 of Round 5. The win cements Van’s status as the division’s top fighter after previously taking the title from Pantoja and now turning back his first challenger in a rematch. For Pantoja, another loss to Van likely pushes him down the title ladder, while Van’s performance positions him for further defenses against other top contenders in the stacked flyweight division.
Joshua Van successfully defended the UFC flyweight championship against Alexandre Pantoja on Saturday night, turning back the former titleholder by unanimous decision in their rematch at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at UFC 331.
Van, nicknamed "The Fearless," improved to 18-2 and retained the belt he had previously taken from Pantoja. At just 24 years old, the Myanmar-born fighter out of 4oz. Fight Club has already established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the flyweight division, landing an eye-catching 8.26 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate. Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, the orthodox southpaw went the full 25 minutes to secure all three judges' scorecards, confirming his place at the top of the 125-pound class.
Pantoja, 36, entered the rematch ranked first in the flyweight division and fourth pound-for-pound in the world, carrying a 30-7 record and the credibility of a former champion. The Brazilian veteran out of American Top Team is a well-rounded threat, averaging 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts in the same span, giving him a legitimate path to victory on the mat. Despite those tools and a two-inch reach advantage over Van, "The Cannibal" could not secure the stoppage or the decision needed to reclaim his title.
Why it matters
- Van's second consecutive victory over Pantoja strengthens his case as the division's undisputed best, having now beaten its top-ranked fighter twice.
- Pantoja's second loss to Van complicates his path back to a title shot, potentially opening the door for other top flyweights to leapfrog him in the queue.
- With Pantoja handled twice, attention will shift to who emerges next as the division's leading challenger from a deep 125-pound roster.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
