The Octagon is about to light up Saturday night in Los Angeles for UFC 331, and fans are buzzing because the main event is a championship rematch with some serious history. We are talking about flyweight champion Joshua Van going head-to-head with Alexandre Pantoja, the man he took the title from. This isn’t just any rematch, folks; Pantoja entered their first fight as the champion, only to lose his belt after a fluke injury struck him shortly after the opening bell. Now, Pantoja is absolutely gunning to regain that championship, while Van is looking to firmly establish himself as the undeniable king of the flyweight division. You just know there’s going to be fireworks.
Baraniewski Is Coming Like a Freight Train, Can Menifield Even Survive?
Our picks have been a bit of a rollercoaster lately, going 3-2 for UFC 330 and sitting at an even 21-21 for the year. The goal is simple: get back in the black! We are sticking to our rule that all bets must be at odds of -250 or better. For Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski, the smart money is on Baraniewski by KO/TKO/DQ at -170. Let’s be real, Baraniewski has been absolutely spectacular in his three UFC fights, plus his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. None of his opponents have lasted even 90 seconds in the Octagon, and he has *never* seen the second round in nine professional bouts. That’s just wild.
Yeah, Menifield is a considerable step up, a respected gatekeeper in the light heavyweight division. But Baraniewski is landing an absurd 11.35 strikes per minute! While that’s in super short bursts, Menifield only absorbs 3.81 strikes per minute. It’s a clash of styles, for sure. However, I truly believe Baraniewski has the ability to implement his gameplan against most fighters, and Menifield, as good as he is, just might not be good enough to outlast that kind of pressure. He’s been knocked out four times in the UFC, and that aggressive, relentless pace from Baraniewski could prove to be too much for him to handle.
Steveson’s Easy Road and the Championship Clash Ahead
Then we’ve got Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf, but honestly, we’re passing on that one for our official bets. The lines are just too crazy. Steveson is a massive -2100 favorite, and the fight ending in under 1.5 rounds is sitting at -620. Even Steveson winning by knockout is -275. None of those meet our -250 or better rule. Look, Steveson absolutely *should* win, and he’ll probably win with relative ease. He continues to get these “soft touches” as he develops as a fighter, which is typically something you’d expect to see happen entirely on the regional scene. So, while it might be an interesting watch, it’s not where we’re putting our money. There’s also another bout scheduled, Patrício Pitbull vs. an unnamed opponent, that’s sure to add more action to the card.
So, get ready for Saturday night! That main event rematch between Van and Pantoja for the flyweight title is the real deal. After that fluke injury, Pantoja has everything to prove, and Van wants to shut him down for good. You won’t want to miss seeing if Van can truly solidify his championship reign or if Pantoja can snatch back what he believes is rightfully his. It’s going to be intense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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