Full Breakdown
Joshua Van-Pantoja Rematch Headlines UFC 331 in September
8/6/2026, 10:46:51 PM
Event Announcement and Main Card Overview
UFC officials confirmed that a flyweight title rematch between champion Joshua Van and challenger Alexandre Pantoja will headline UFC 331, scheduled for September at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The co-main event will feature a five-round lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy. Additional fights on the card include newcomer Gable Stevenson versus Sean Sharaf.
Background to the Van-Pantoja Rematch
Van captured the UFC flyweight championship in December with a first-round TKO of Pantoja at UFC 323. The bout ended after just 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered a freak elbow injury while attempting to brace himself after Van’s early kick. Van has expressed a desire to “run it back” and silence any doubt about his status as champion, noting that a clean rematch is “only right.” He successfully defended the belt in May against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328.
Records and Rankings of Featured Fighters
- Joshua Van – 17-2 overall MMA record; only UFC loss to Charles Johnson in 2024; seven-fight winning streak.
- Alexandre Pantoja – 30-6 overall record; eight wins in his last nine fights; former flyweight champion who defended the belt four times before losing to Van.
- Arman Tsarukyan – 23-3 overall, 10-2 in the UFC, on a five-fight win streak; ranked No. 2 lightweight and widely viewed as the top contender for the division’s title.
- Mauricio Ruffy – 14-2 overall, 5-1 in the UFC with four knockouts; ranked No. 7 lightweight.
Significance for the Flyweight and Lightweight Divisions
The Van-Pantoja rematch offers Van an opportunity to validate his championship after the injury-marred first encounter, while also positioning Pantoja for a potential resurgence. In the lightweight bracket, Tsarukyan’s return after a November victory and his matchup against a rising prospect in Ruffy could accelerate his path toward a title shot. Both bouts underscore UFC’s strategy of pairing established champions with high-profile challengers to sustain fan interest and clarify division hierarchies heading into the latter half of the year.
