Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2 Set to Headline UFC 331

The flyweight gold will be on the line in Los Angeles as current champion Joshua Van runs it back with former king Alexandre Pantoja. The highly anticipated rematch is set to headline UFC 331 on September 19, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena. This fight is all about settling unfinished business and proving who truly rules the 125-pound division after a bizarre first meeting.

Their first fight at UFC 323 in December 2025 ended in the absolute weirdest way possible. Just 26 seconds into the very first round, Van caught a head kick thrown by Pantoja. As Pantoja fell to the canvas, he landed awkwardly and severely dislocated his elbow. The referee had to stop the fight right then and there due to the injury, crowning Van as the first Asian-born champion in UFC history. It was a bittersweet, chaotic ending to Pantoja's dominant reign, and the Brazilian has been itching to get his revenge ever since.

Since that night, the 24-year-old Van has done everything to prove he is the real deal. Carrying a 17-2 record, he is riding a phenomenal seven-fight winning streak. He already defended his belt once in May 2026, stopping the dangerous Tatsuro Taira with a spectacular fifth-round knockout in what many are already calling the fight of the year.

Meanwhile, Pantoja is finally fully healed and ready to take back what he lost. At 36 years old, the veteran holds a stellar 30-6 record and previously cleared out the division with four straight title defenses against elite contenders like Brandon Royval and Kai Asakura. Pantoja has won eight of his last nine fights, and if he pulls off a victory in Los Angeles, he will join legends like Brandon Moreno as one of the few fighters to ever win back the flyweight crown.