UFC 331 delivered a dramatic night of MMA action at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision to retain the UFC flyweight championship.
The highly anticipated Van vs Pantoja 2 rematch headlined the UFC 331 fight card after their first meeting ended prematurely because of an injury. This time, the two flyweights went the distance, with Van’s striking, movement and takedown defense earning him a clear victory on the judges’ scorecards.
UFC 331 Results: Joshua Van Defeats Alexandre Pantoja
The main event between Joshua Van vs Pantoja lived up to the expectations surrounding the rematch. Van controlled much of the striking exchanges and consistently used his speed to keep the former champion at range.
Pantoja found success through his grappling and accumulated nearly 10 minutes of control time, particularly when he was able to take the fight to the mat. However, Van defended numerous takedown attempts and continued to land effectively from the outside.
Van’s strongest moment came in the fifth round when he dropped Pantoja. After 25 minutes, the judges awarded Van the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 50-45.
The victory marked Van’s second successful defense of the UFC men’s flyweight championship.
Van vs Pantoja 2: How the Fight Played Out
The Pantoja vs Van 2 matchup featured a clear contrast in styles. Van relied heavily on distance management, quick combinations and movement, while Pantoja looked to close the distance and establish his grappling game.
Pantoja had some of his best moments in the first and fourth rounds, when he managed to secure takedowns and control positions on the ground. Van nevertheless remained effective enough on the feet to influence the judges.
The result also strengthened Van’s position at the top of the UFC flyweight division.
UFC 331 Main Card Results
The UFC 331 main card featured several memorable finishes and one of the night’s biggest surprises.
| Fight | Result |
|---|---|
| Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja | Van won by unanimous decision |
| Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy | Tsarukyan won by Round 1 KO |
| Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi | Pitbull won by Round 1 TKO |
| Sean Sharaf vs. Gable Steveson | Sharaf won by Round 1 KO |
| Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski | Menifield won by split decision |
| Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain | Vera won by Round 3 TKO |
| Robelis Despaigne vs. Tai Tuivasa | Despaigne won by split decision |
The full UFC 331 card also included victories for Michael Aswell Jr., Ryan Gandra, Edmen Shahbazyan, Casey O’Neill and Joanderson Brito.
Arman Tsarukyan Scores Huge Win
Arman Tsarukyan made a major statement in the UFC 331 co-main event against Mauricio Ruffy.
Despite suffering significant swelling around his left eye following an elbow, Tsarukyan responded with an elbow of his own late in the opening round. The strike ended the fight and gave Tsarukyan a first-round knockout victory.
The win extended his winning streak to six fights and positioned him for a potential lightweight title opportunity.
Sean Sharaf Stuns Gable Steveson
One of the biggest moments on the UFC 331 fight card came when Sean Sharaf stopped Gable Steveson in just 12 seconds.
Steveson entered the fight as one of the event’s most highly regarded prospects, but Sharaf immediately changed the contest with a powerful left hook.
The knockout became one of the most unexpected results of the UFC event.
Patricio Pitbull Wins by First-Round TKO
Former champion Patricio Pitbull also produced a quick finish against Dooho Choi. Pitbull stopped Choi with punches in the first round, adding another highlight to the UFC fights at Crypto.com Arena.
Edmen Shahbazyan Wins on the UFC 331 Card
Edmen Shahbazyan earned a unanimous-decision victory over Brunno Ferreira. The judges scored the bout 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 in Shahbazyan’s favor.
Other preliminary-card winners included Casey O’Neill, who submitted Eduarda Moura with an armbar, and Joanderson Brito, who knocked out Giga Chikadze in the opening round.
Where Is Joshua Van From?
The Joshua Van UFC story has attracted considerable attention as the young flyweight continues to establish himself as a championship-level fighter.
Van is from Myanmar and later moved to the United States, where he developed his professional MMA career. His rise through the UFC has made searches such as where is Joshua Van from, Josh Van and Josh Van UFC increasingly popular among fans following the flyweight division.
UFC Tonight Results and Latest UFC News
For fans searching for UFC tonight, UFC tonight results, UFC today, UFC live and the latest UFC results, UFC 331 provided a packed night of action.
The event featured:
- Joshua Van retaining the flyweight championship
- Alexandre Pantoja falling short in his title comeback
- Arman Tsarukyan scoring a first-round knockout
- Patricio Pitbull winning by first-round TKO
- Sean Sharaf shocking Gable Steveson
- Edmen Shahbazyan earning a decision victory
- Marlon Vera stopping Charles Jourdain
With the UFC continuing its schedule of major UFC events, fans can expect the next cards to build on several storylines established in Los Angeles.
UFC 331 Fight Card at Crypto.com Arena
The event took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, providing the setting for the second meeting between Van and Pantoja.
The headline matchup delivered a full five-round fight, while the rest of the UFC card tonight produced several early finishes. The combination of title action, contender fights and heavyweight drama made UFC 331 one of the notable events on the UFC calendar.
For fans searching UFC fight tonight, UFC fights tonight, UFC fight card tonight or UFC main card tonight, the UFC 331 results provided plenty of major moments to follow.
Final UFC 331 Takeaway
Joshua Van vs Pantoja 2 ended with Van firmly retaining his UFC flyweight title after five competitive rounds. Pantoja’s grappling created problems throughout the contest, but Van’s striking and takedown defense allowed him to secure the unanimous decision.
Beyond the main event, UFC 331 featured major finishes from Arman Tsarukyan, Patricio Pitbull and Sean Sharaf, while Edmen Shahbazyan and several other fighters added important victories to their records.
For the latest UFC results, fight cards and upcoming UFC fights, the promotion’s schedule remains packed with storylines across multiple divisions.
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