UFC 331 is absolutely loaded at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, bringing a card that’s not just stacked with a title fight and a title eliminator, but also bursting with headliner talent ready to unleash some serious fan-friendly shootouts. There are strong strikers everywhere you look, making for matchups that could deliver some truly wild, back-and-forth action.
Van Is a Decade Younger and He Is Here to Stay
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja are about to run it back in a flyweight title rematch, and man, the vibes are totally different this time. Van snagged the first win, yeah, but it was an unconvincing injury finish. You’d think that would keep the market cautious, right? Nope! They saw enough to flip him from a huge underdog to a slight favorite for this fight. And get this: the numbers completely back it up. Van is over a decade younger than Pantoja, who’s 36 and, let’s be real, not invincible. On their feet, Van’s got a crazy edge, showing superior accuracy and defense that should let him dominate exchanges. Pantoja’s poor head-strike defense? That’s a massive, glaring liability against a slick, young striker like Van. Sure, Pantoja usually sees success when he grapples, but Van’s takedown defense is seriously above average. He’s shut down plenty of guys trying to take him down. So, expect Van to get a ton of time standing, and those minutes are gonna totally favor his striking efficiency. My buddy and I are both betting on Van to take the win here, no question.
Jourdain and Choi Ready for Striking Shootouts
But the title fight isn’t the only fireworks we’re getting. Charles Jourdain and Marlon Vera are set to throw down in what should be another fan-friendly striking duel. These guys might be good on the ground, but they’re both reluctant to go there. We’re talking 20 career knockdowns between them! Jourdain’s defense is tighter, even though he’s been rocked a few times, so this could be a wild back-and-forth battle, maybe even Fight of the Night! The edge really goes to Jourdain though. He typically gets the better of those extended exchanges, while Vera just eats more than he gives. Over time, that adds up to damage, and Jourdain should be scoring way more often, racking up strikes for the judges. Then there’s Doo Ho Choi vs. Patricio Pitbull, another potential striking war between two of the card’s most accurate strikers. Choi has the advantage across the board: pace, power, range, and defensive avoidance. Pitbull might try for takedowns, but it’s not a lock he’ll keep Choi on the mat long enough. The numbers say Choi is gonna be outlanding Pitbull by a huge volume. He’s got good power for his size, and even if he doesn’t get the knockdowns, he’s totally winning rounds with his striking.
This UFC 331 card is absolutely packed with guys ready to go toe-to-toe, delivering exactly what fans want to see. Don’t miss out on these incredible striking battles and that killer title rematch. It’s gonna be a night full of finishes, and you know we’ll be talking about it for days!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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