UFC 331 Fighters Complete 12 Final Faceoffs Ahead of Flyweight Title Rematch

Q: Can Joshua Van prove his 26-second title victory wasn't a fluke against a fully healed and vengeful Alexandre Pantoja?

Yes — but only if he does what he could not show in 26 seconds the first time: beat Alexandre Pantoja over real exchanges, not chaos. The case for Van is strong. He is 24, on a seven-fight winning streak, has gone 10-1 in the UFC, and answered doubts after winning the belt by injury with a legitimate title defense, stopping Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round at UFC 328. That performance mattered because it showed he can manage grappling pressure, stay composed late, and win a championship fight on merit. Still, the fluke question is unavoidable because Van’s title win came when Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury just 26 seconds into their first meeting. A healthy Pantoja is a very different test. Before losing the belt, he was on an eight-fight winning streak and had defended the flyweight title four times. His experience, submission threat and five-round savvy remain elite. The matchup appears close for a reason. Betting markets have Van only as a slight favorite, reflecting both his momentum and the uncertainty of how the rematch looks with Pantoja fully healed. Van likely has the cleaner striking and younger legs. Pantoja likely has the edge if he can turn it into a grappling-heavy fight. So Van can absolutely prove the first result was not a fluke, but only with a decisive win that survives scrutiny — ideally over multiple rounds, against Pantoja’s wrestling and submissions, with no injury caveat attached.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 19

All 12 UFC 331 bouts completed ceremonial weigh-ins and final staredowns Friday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, clearing the last promotional step before Saturday's card.
The event is headlined by a flyweight title rematch between Joshua Van, 17-2, and Alexandre Pantoja, 30-6, the centerpiece of the promotion's eighth numbered show of 2026.
Arman Tsarukyan, 23-3, meets Mauricio Ruffy, 14-2, in a five-round lightweight fight that could shape the next title-challenger picture.
Gable Steveson, 4-0 in MMA and 1-0 in UFC, also returns at heavyweight, with veterans Patricio Freire, Marlon Vera and Tai Tuivasa on the undercard.
Crypto.com Arena hosts the UFC's first event at the venue since August 2018, bringing the promotion back to downtown Los Angeles for UFC 331.