Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 18

Herb Dean Draws UFC 331 Title Rematch as Referee for Van-Pantoja 2 Amid Recent Controversy

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 18

Herb Dean Draws UFC 331 Title Rematch as Referee for Van-Pantoja 2 Amid Recent Controversy

Q: Will Pantoja avenge his 26-second injury loss tomorrow night, or will Joshua Van cement his era as the true flyweight king?

Joshua Van is the safer pick, but only narrowly. The strongest evidence is what Van has done since the strange ending of the first fight. He did not just inherit the belt after Alexandre Pantoja’s 26-second injury loss; he followed it with a legitimate title defense, stopping Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round at UFC 328. That performance suggested his pace, composure and striking can hold up deep into a championship fight, even against a dangerous grappler. Pantoja remains a very real threat. Before losing the title, he had ruled the division for more than two years, defended the belt four times and beat elite names such as Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France, Kai Asakura and Steve Erceg. His pressure, wrestling transitions, back-taking and submission game still give him the clearest path to victory, especially if he can force prolonged grappling exchanges early. The problem for Pantoja is that this version of Van appears to be improving quickly at age 24. Van’s technical boxing, volume and growing takedown resistance make him a difficult five-round assignment, and oddsmakers have reflected that with Van as a slight favorite. Pantoja’s layoff after the elbow injury also adds uncertainty, even if he says he is fully recovered. So the likeliest outcome is Van cementing his reign rather than Pantoja avenging the loss. But this is close enough that a Pantoja submission or grinding decision would not be a surprise. If Van keeps the fight mostly standing, he should retain.

Q: With UFC 331 just hours away, will Alexandre Pantoja make history as the third flyweight ever to reclaim the undisputed championship?

Yes—if Alexandre Pantoja beats Joshua Van at UFC 331, he will become the third flyweight in UFC history to reclaim the undisputed title, joining Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo. The case for him is strong, but far from certain. Pantoja enters as the former champion who held the belt for more than two years and defended it four times against elite opposition, including Moreno, Kai Kara-France, Kai Asakura and Steve Erceg. He has said he is fully recovered from the arm injury that ended the first Van fight after just 26 seconds, and he has framed this rematch as a chance to settle unfinished business rather than avenge a conventional defeat. At the same time, Van is no placeholder champion. Since winning the belt at UFC 323, the 24-year-old has defended it with a fifth-round TKO over Tatsuro Taira, strengthening his legitimacy. His speed, technical boxing and improving wrestling make him a much more difficult assignment than a titleholder still living off an injury-shortened win. So the history is available to Pantoja, but not guaranteed. The rematch matters precisely because the first fight answered so little. If Pantoja can impose his pressure, grappling and championship experience over five rounds, he has a real path to becoming that third two-time flyweight champion. If Van wins decisively, he will likely erase any remaining doubt about who truly leads the division.

2 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 18

Herb Dean will referee Saturday’s UFC 331 flyweight title main event in Los Angeles, overseeing champion Joshua Van’s rematch with Alexandre Pantoja on Paramount+.
The assignment is drawing scrutiny because Dean has faced months of criticism from fighters and fans over a string of disputed Octagon calls, including failed efforts to publicly defend his decisions.
Van vs. Pantoja 2 revisits their UFC 323 co-main event, where Pantoja lost after suffering a limb injury; Dean also handled that first 125-pound meeting in late 2025.
Jason Herzog was assigned to the five-round lightweight co-main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy, with separate judging panels set for the two featured bouts.

Sources

Yahoo Sports2h ago

Herb Dean Assigned UFC 331 Main Event Referee Amidst Controversy

MMA Fighting2h ago

Andy Foster responds to complaints about Herb Dean after Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC White House | MMA Fighting

Will Pantoja avenge his 26-second injury loss tomorrow night, or will Joshua Van cement his era as the true flyweight king?

With UFC 331 just hours away, will Alexandre Pantoja make history as the third flyweight ever to reclaim the undisputed championship?

Can Arman Tsarukyan survive Mauricio Ruffy's explosive knockout power in tomorrow's high-stakes lightweight co-main event at UFC 331?

Sources

2 total

Yahoo Sports2h ago

Herb Dean Assigned UFC 331 Main Event Referee Amidst Controversy

MMA Fighting2h ago

Andy Foster responds to complaints about Herb Dean after Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC White House | MMA Fighting

Herb Dean Draws UFC 331 Title Rematch as Referee for Van-Pantoja 2 Amid Recent Controversy

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