Joshua Van put on a striking masterclass to secure a unanimous-decision win over Alexandre Pantoja and retain his flyweight title at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, as the 24-year-old from Myanmar settled the score with the former champion after their first encounter ended with a freak injury.
The undisputed flyweight champion firmly cemented his reign atop the 125-pound division, defeating the Brazilian veteran via unanimous decision with judges scoring the bout 49-46, 49-47, and 50-45 in the main event on Saturday night at the Crypto.com Arena.
The high-stakes rematch carried immense significance for both fighters and the division. Pantoja had suffered an accidental elbow dislocation merely 26 seconds into their first championship meeting in December of the previous year. That sudden and unfortunate conclusion resulted in Van capturing the UFC flyweight title without securing an outright, definitive victory over the Brazilian, who had previously reigned over the division with authority for at least two years.
Van, making history as the first-ever UFC champion from Myanmar, subsequently defended the coveted belt against Tatsuro Taira in May. However, he was still left waiting to definitively seal his status as the undisputed best fighter in the division while the 36-year-old Pantoja underwent the necessary recovery process from his severe arm injury. Saturday night’s main event provided the platform Van needed to erase any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of his championship status.
"A lot of people said that was an accidental win… well, doubt me now," Joshua said during his post-fight interview, reflecting on the narrative that had surrounded his title reign following his second successful title defense. The hard-fought victory extended his impressive professional mixed martial arts record to 18 wins against just two losses.
The championship bout began at a blistering pace. Pantoja quickly demonstrated his championship pedigree by securing a takedown in the opening round, before landing heavy punches and knees in a fiery, close-quarters exchange. Van, refusing to back down, retaliated immediately with a slicing elbow that tested the resilience of the former champion.
Recognizing the danger of engaging in a reckless firefight with a veteran known for his durability and finishing instincts, Van’s corner offered crucial advice during the interval. "You’re too good to brawl with this guy," Van’s coaches instructed him during the break, steering their fighter toward a more tactical, measured approach that would leverage his superior striking precision.
The tactical adjustment paid immediate dividends. Van systematically peppered Pantoja with crisp left-handed jabs throughout the second round, keeping the challenger at bay and dictating the range. By the third round, the champion began to thoroughly find his rhythm, rocking the Brazilian with a fluid, damaging combination of punches that showcased his dynamic offensive capabilities.
Pantoja, displaying the heart and experience of a former long-reigning titleholder, mounted a resurgence in the fourth round. He successfully managed to take Van down to the canvas, looking to impose his grappling game and search for a submission. Although Pantoja controlled large portions of the fourth frame on the mat, he ultimately proved unable to secure a submission against the resilient champion, who defended intelligently and managed to work his way back to his feet.
In the championship rounds, the momentum decisively belonged to the younger fighter. Entering the fifth and final round, Van stalked Pantoja around the Octagon, maintaining constant pressure before stunning the challenger and knocking him down with a devastating overhand right. That late knockdown cemented Van’s dominance on the judges’ scorecards and sealed a definitive victory, leaving no room for controversy this time around.
The co-main event of UFC 331 delivered equally dramatic action, as Armenian lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan forcefully staked his claim for a shot at the divisional championship. Tsarukyan put on a brilliant display of skill and opportunism when he pinned Mauricio Ruffy against the cage wall. Capitalizing on a momentary opening, Tsarukyan rocked Ruffy with a sharp left elbow before following up with a devastating right elbow that rendered his opponent unconscious, bringing a sudden halt to the bout with a mere four seconds remaining in the first round.
"I knew my time would come, so I was patient," said Tsarukyan, whose spectacular finish extended his current win streak inside the Octagon to six consecutive fights. Capitalizing on the microphone time immediately following his victory, Tsarukyan boldly called for a championship bout against reigning titleholder Justin Gaethje.
The card also featured notable action in the featherweight division, where former four-time, two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull secured his first-ever UFC stoppage victory. Pitbull, boasting a career record of 38 wins and 9 losses, dismantled South Korea’s Dooho Choi via technical knockout within three minutes and 28 seconds of the opening round.
Pitbull completely overwhelmed Choi with an unrelenting barrage of sharp, high-volume striking before landing a devastating right hand that left the veteran Choi defenseless, prompting the referee to step in immediately and wave off the contest. The impressive performance snapped a three-fight finishing streak for Choi, who has been a promotional mainstay and fan favorite under the UFC banner since his debut in 2014.
In the heavyweight division, the evening delivered one of the most stunning and memorable upsets of the entire year. Sean Sharaf shocked the MMA world by needing just 12 seconds to dispatch Gable Steveson via a first-round technical knockout.
Steveson had stepped into the Octagon as an overwhelming betting favorite, drawing immense attention due to his elite athletic pedigree. However, Sharaf neutralized any tactical plans instantly, catching Steveson flush in the very first exchange of the bout. Sharaf unleashed a blistering, unanswered flurry of strikes that forced a lightning-fast stoppage from the official, resulting in the third-fastest knockout in the entire history of the UFC heavyweight division.
As the referee officially waved off the fight, a visibly frustrated Steveson refused to remain inside the Octagon while Sharaf had his hand officially raised in victory. Meanwhile, Sharaf celebrated the landmark triumph in front of an electric, cheering crowd in Los Angeles.