UFC 331 is rolling back into downtown Los Angeles this Saturday, the first time since 2018, and it’s bringing one of the most anticipated rematches in the flyweight division: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2, with the title on the line at Crypto.com Arena.
The 26-Second Disaster That Changed Everything For Pantoja
Remember last December at UFC 323 in Las Vegas? Pantoja was the pound-for-pound king, making his fifth flyweight title defense, nearly a 3-to-1 betting favorite against the upstart Van. Then, BAM, an elbow injury just 26 seconds into the fight, and his title was gone via first-round TKO. That’s a brutal way to lose the belt, man. Fast forward, and Van’s strong performance in May, outdueling Tatsuro Taira via fifth-round TKO for his first title defense, just solidified his spot and cranked the pressure on Pantoja for this rematch. Now, Van is actually a small betting favorite! Talk about a flip. The bad blood started bubbling at the introductory press conference in August, and the intensity has definitely been raised. If Van wins, it firmly removes any lingering talk about him being a “paper champion.” But if the battle-tested 36-year-old Pantoja reclaims that belt? It’s all about cementing his greatness and finally getting the respect he thinks he deserves at an advanced age.
Arman Tsarukyan’s Rocky Road Back to a Title Shot
But hold up, the co-main event has its own massive drama going down. Arman Tsarukyan, a 29-year-old lightweight with a 10-2 record inside the Octagon since his 2019 debut, is one of those ridiculously talented and popular guys who just hasn’t gotten a championship fight. And honestly, some of that is on him. He infamously pulled out of a UFC 311 title shot, a rematch against Islam Makhachev, back in January 2025. He suffered a back injury in training just one day before the fight! That incident, plus some reported “reckless behavior” outside of the Octagon, landed him squarely in UFC CEO and president Dana White’s doghouse. Now he faces Mauricio Ruffy, who comes in at 14-2. This isn’t just a fight; it’s Tsarukyan’s chance to take one giant step closer to a title shot. An impressive win here? It’s a massive step out of that doghouse and back into contention.
This Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, we’re not just getting two massive fights; we’re seeing careers potentially shift in a big way. Can Van solidify his reign, or does Pantoja reclaim his throne at 36? Can Tsarukyan finally get back on track for the title shot everyone knows he deserves? You know I’ll be glued to every second. Don’t miss it!
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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