UFC 331 brings a high-stakes flyweight title rematch to Los Angeles, with Joshua Van defending against former champion Alexandre Pantoja after their first fight ended abruptly because of injury.
Van and Pantoja return for unfinished business
UFC 331 takes over Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 19, 2026, headlined by Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2. Their first meeting at UFC 323 lasted only 26 seconds. Pantoja suffered an elbow injury in the opening round, ending the contest and allowing Van to capture the flyweight championship. Because the injury prevented the matchup from becoming a full test, the rematch carries more weight than a routine title defense. Both fighters now have the chance to deliver a decisive answer inside the Octagon.
Joshua Van enters as a proven champion
Van has strengthened his position since winning the belt. In his first title defense at UFC 328, he stopped Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round, showing that he could remain composed and effective deep into a championship fight. That performance helped separate his reign from the unusual circumstances of his first victory over Pantoja. At UFC 331, Van faces the clearest challenge to his legitimacy as champion: defeating the former titleholder without an injury determining the outcome.
Pantoja targets another championship reign
Pantoja returns with the experience of a former champion who successfully defended the flyweight title four times. His reign included victories over Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France, establishing him as one of the division’s most accomplished fighters. UFC 331 gives him an opportunity to reclaim the championship he lost under frustrating circumstances. For Pantoja, the rematch is about more than recovering the belt; it is a chance to prove that the first result did not settle who is the better fighter.
How to watch UFC 331 live
The early prelims begin at 5:00 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims at 7:00 p.m. ET and the main card at 9:00 p.m. ET. Viewers in the United States can stream the full event on Paramount+, although regional restrictions may apply. Paramount+ is the UFC’s exclusive U.S. streaming destination, carrying coverage from the preliminary bouts through the championship main event. With an unresolved first meeting, an emerging champion and a decorated former titleholder seeking redemption, Van vs. Pantoja 2 is positioned as a defining fight for the flyweight division.
