The flyweight title rematch between champion Joshua Van and former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja is officially set to main event UFC 331, bringing some serious fireworks to Los Angeles this September 19th. Get ready, fight fans, because this one has a history that’s impossible to ignore.
The Championship Showdown
Van, the 24-year-old phenom from Myanmar with a 17-2 record, is stepping back into the octagon with the 36-year-old Brazilian legend Pantoja (30-5), and you know Pantoja is hungry for redemption. Their first clash at UFC 323 last December ended in a wild first-round TKO for Van, but it wasn’t exactly how anyone expected it. Pantoja, the former champ, suffered an arm injury just 26 seconds into that bout, forcing a stoppage and handing Van the 125-pound title. That’s a brutal way for a championship fight to go down! Since then, Van has already defended his belt once, stopping Tatsuro Taira in May via a fifth-round TKO in what was called a “fight of the year” candidate. Can he do it again, or will Pantoja finally get his proper shot at getting his belt back? This is high-stakes stuff!
Tsarukyan’s Big Return
And if the main event isn’t enough to get you hyped, the co-main event is a massive lightweight battle. We’ve got the #2-ranked Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) squaring off against the #7 Mauricio Ruffy (14-2) in a five-round non-title bout. Tsarukyan, the 29-year-old Armenian from Georgia, is making his return to Los Angeles after a seriously rough patch. Remember when he pulled out of that rematch against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title back in January 2025? It was at UFC 311, just one day before the event, all because of a back injury he sustained while cutting weight. Talk about a brutal blow! Now he’s facing Ruffy, the 30-year-old exciting Brazilian native who’s rocked a 5-1 record in the UFC since his debut in 2024. This is a huge test for Tsarukyan to show he’s back at full strength and ready to climb that ladder again.
Stacked Card Alert!
UFC 331 is absolutely stacked with other incredible matchups, too! We’re talking about the return of heavyweight prospect and 2020 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, who’s taking on Sean Sharaf. Plus, a lightweight rematch that’s bound to be explosive between Renato Moicano and Brian Ortega. And you know an “all-action” featherweight bout featuring Patricio “Pitbull” Cruz and Dooho Choi is going to deliver! Also on the card: Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski at light heavyweight, Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain in a bantamweight clash, heavyweights Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne, Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira at middleweight, Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito in another featherweight fight, Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura for the women’s flyweights, Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz at middleweight, and Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joosang Yoo in a featherweight opener.
UFC 331 is going down live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19th. With a title rematch that has serious history, a massive lightweight comeback story, and a full lineup of fights, this card is going to be unforgettable. Mark your calendars, because this is one you won’t want to miss!
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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