Tonight’s UFC 331 event was headlined by a highly anticipated men’s flyweight title fight rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.
Van and Pantoja had originally collided back at UFC 323 in December of last year, where ‘The Fearless’ walked away with the promotion’s coveted men’s flyweight title after ‘The Cannibal’ suffered a nasty arm injury the rendered him unable to continue (see that here).
Joshua Van (17-2 MMA) had since successfully defended the 125lbs strap on one occasion, earning a fifth-round TKO victory over Japanese standout Tatsuro Taira. The 24-year-old had entered tonight’s rematch sporting a seven-fight winning streak.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja (30-6 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time since suffering that aforementioned arm injury against Van at UFC 323. Prior to that setback, ‘The Cannibal’ had strung together a seven-fight winning streak, an impressive stretch which included four successful title defenses over opponents Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France.
Tonight’s UFC 331 main event proved to be an absolute thriller. Alexandre Pantoja came out guns blazing, but Joshua Van was able to weather the early onslaught and get his boxing going shortly thereafter. While Pantoja was able to get the fight to the floor in dominant positions on multiple occasions, he was never able to get off any really solid offense from those spots. The fight seemed to be razor close heading into the fifth and final round, but it was in those last five minutes that Van cemented his status as champion. He was able to drop the Brazilian with a right hand and pretty much controlled the entire fifth round.
Official UFC 331 Results: Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–47, 50–45)
Check out how the pros reacted to ‘Van vs. Pantoja 2’ below:
This will be Pantoja’s 7th UFC title fight.
TUF fighters with the most title fights:
Kamaru Usman: 8
T.J. Dillashaw: 8#UFC331— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 20, 2026
UFC MAIN EVENT… It’s a pick’em fight so just sit back and watch the two best FlyWeights throw down.
I’m more excited for their 2nd fight than I was for their first fight. Sit back and enjoy!— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) September 20, 2026
Fight looks like it’s on 2x speed #UFC331
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 20, 2026
That was a super close round
I have it 10-9 Pantoja by the absolute slimmest of margins
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 20, 2026
This is some gorgeous stuff. Those clinched to take downs and then the sprawls. High-level.
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 20, 2026
Van is starting to heat up going into this third round
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 20, 2026
This is a very good fight #UFC331
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 20, 2026
How they keeping this pace, madness #ufc331
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 20, 2026
Van’s takedown defense has looked great and that will be the biggest difference going into the championship rounds
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 20, 2026
Man. This is a good one! Van is a step ahead and Pantoga is relentless.
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 20, 2026
Pantoja able to play back into his game. 2-2 going into the final round
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 20, 2026
I have it 10-9 Pantoja, although I do feel that should have been stood up. Pantoja barely landed anything on the ground.
I have it 38-38 heading into the final round. Big stakes right here.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 20, 2026
2-2 going into the 5th. I wanna see a 3rd fight already haha
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) September 20, 2026
Post-fight reactions to Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331:
50-45…… horrible judging.
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) September 20, 2026
Looks like they put a food deliver driver to fight against Van
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 20, 2026
50-45 is crazy but that was a great fight van vs kape is gonna be all hands
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 20, 2026
Watching fight Great fights pic.twitter.com/ssZpazIB19
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 20, 2026
What a fight, What a card, What a fucking sport #UFC331
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 20, 2026
Who would you like to see Van fight next following his decision victory over Pantoja this evening in Los Angeles? Share your thoughts in the comment section Penn Nation!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
