Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2 booked for UFC 331 main event

Joshua Van will defend his UFC flyweight title against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch at UFC 331 on September 19 in Los Angeles.

The fight headlines a stacked card at the Intuit Dome, with Van coming off his most spectacular victory yet.

Pantoja lost the UFC flyweight title to Joshua Van at UFC 317 after suffering an arm injury just minutes into their bout. The injury initially raised doubts about Pantoja’s return, but doctors later confirmed it wasn’t as severe as feared.

Before the injury, Pantoja had won eight straight fights, including a split decision over Brandon Moreno to claim the belt at UFC 290. He then defended it four times-against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France-before meeting Van.

Van’s stock soared after his wild win over Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328, a fight many called the fight of the year. That performance cemented his place as the division’s top dog and set up this high-stakes rematch.

Pantoja, a future UFC Hall of Famer, has been hungry to reclaim the title since their first clash. A win would make Van the first flyweight to stop Pantoja in their second meeting, adding another layer to this grudge match.

UFC 331 features a heavyweight clash between Curtis Blaydes and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, plus a bantamweight bout between Marlon Vera and Charles Jourdain. The main event remains unconfirmed by the promotion, but sources say Van vs. Pantoja 2 is locked in.

The fight is slated for September 19 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. If it happens, it could be one of the biggest flyweight rematches in UFC history.

Fans are already buzzing over the pairing. Pantoja’s eight-fight win streak before the injury and Van’s explosive rise since then make this a must-watch. The rematch also gives Pantoja a chance to silence doubters who questioned his durability after the arm injury.

Pantoja has been vocal about his desire to face Van again. And with the UFC pushing for blockbuster matchups, this fight could headline a stacked card in one of the sport’s biggest venues.