UFC Sets Pantoja-Van 2 for Sept. 19 as Ex-Champ Opens at -120

Q: Can Joshua Van silence his critics and prove his 26-second title victory wasn't just a freak accident at UFC 331?

Yes—Van has a real chance to silence critics at UFC 331, but only if he beats a healthy Alexandre Pantoja convincingly over a full fight. The doubt around Van’s title win is understandable. Their first meeting lasted just 26 seconds and ended when Pantoja dislocated his arm during a takedown defense, not because Van clearly broke him down. That result gave Van the belt, but not universal acceptance. Even now, oddsmakers reportedly opened Pantoja as a slight favorite, which shows how much respect the former champion still carries. Van has done meaningful work to strengthen his case since then. His five-round stoppage of Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 was important because it showed he could perform like a true champion against an elite flyweight. That win answered some questions about his legitimacy, especially given how well he handled both striking and difficult ground moments. Still, Pantoja remains a major test. Before losing the title, he had four defenses and an eight-fight winning streak. His camp says he recovered without surgery, returned quickly, and is entering this rematch at his physical and technical peak. If that proves true, Van will be facing a much more complete version of the man he dethroned. So the path is clear for Van: if he defeats Pantoja cleanly on Sept. 19—especially without controversy—he will likely end most of the “fluke” talk. If he struggles, or if the result is again unusual, the debate around his championship win will continue.

Q: With Dana White already stopping press conference brawls, will the intense bad blood cause a reckless mistake in this championship rematch?

Yes, the bad blood raises the risk of a reckless moment, and the bigger danger appears to be on Pantoja’s side if he lets emotion override discipline. The evidence is already visible. At the UFC 331 press conference, Pantoja stood up and tried to move toward Van after Van interrupted him and mocked him. Dana White and security had to step in during both the exchange and the staredown. That matters because Pantoja’s clearest path in this rematch is likely composure, pressure, and technical execution, not chasing a quick statement. Van, by contrast, looked comfortable provoking him. His comments that he still would have “whooped” Pantoja even without the injury, and his willingness to interrupt and taunt him, suggest a deliberate attempt to draw out frustration. If Pantoja bites too hard, he could force takedowns, overcommit in exchanges, or abandon the measured style that made him a dominant champion with four title defenses. Still, intensity does not automatically mean a sloppy fight. Pantoja’s camp says he recovered quickly, avoided surgery, and has returned as a more mature, improved version of himself. Van also proved substance beyond the controversy by stopping Tatsuro Taira in a title defense. So the animosity is real, but it is only likely to change the outcome if one man loses tactical control. The pre-fight signs suggest that is a legitimate possibility, especially if Van succeeds in turning the rematch into an emotional fight instead of a technical one.

3 articles · Updated · bettorsinsider.com · Aug 14

Sept. 19 brings an immediate flyweight title rematch at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, with former champion Alexandre Pantoja challenging Joshua Van in the main event.
Their first fight ended after just 26 seconds at UFC 323 last December, when Pantoja dislocated his arm defending a takedown and lost the 125-pound belt by stoppage.
DraftKings opened Pantoja as a slight -120 favorite over Van at +100, signaling bettors still view the first result as injury-driven rather than decisive.
Van, 17-2 and the UFC’s first Asian-born champion, has since defended the title once by stopping Tatsuro Taira over five rounds at UFC 328.
UFC 331 now has a 13-fight lineup at Crypto.com Arena, with the rematch giving Pantoja a chance to reclaim the belt and Van a chance to validate his reign.