Alexandre Pantoja faces calls to retire after UFC 331 title

Alexandre Pantoja's quest to reclaim the UFC flyweight title ended decisively at UFC 331, as champion Joshua Van dominated him over five rounds. The unanimous decision loss on September 19, 2026, in Los Angeles has sparked serious debate about the 30-7 veteran's fighting future, with a legendary voice suggesting it's time to walk away.

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson believes Pantoja should consider hanging up his gloves. Johnson pointed to the brutal nature of Pantoja's recent fights and his extensive resume. "You don't need concussions," Johnson said on his YouTube channel, referencing the punishing five-round battle with Van. This was Pantoja's second straight loss to the champion, following a 26-second defeat in December where he dislocated his elbow. Johnson argues Pantoja is now in a difficult spot, having already beaten nearly every top contender in the division.

His victories include multiple wins over Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval, plus title defenses against Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France. He also holds a 2021 decision win over Manel Kape, who is now next in line for a title shot. With few fresh challenges ahead and two clear losses to the current king, the path forward is murky. The call from a respected figure like Johnson carries significant weight in the MMA community.

The main event at Crypto.com Arena was a one-sided affair. Judges scored the fight 50-45, 49-47, and 49-46 for Joshua Van, who dropped Pantoja in the final round. This performance solidified Van's status and erased any doubts from their first, injury-shortened encounter. For Pantoja, it was another decision loss, the sixth of his seven career defeats. Yet his fighting spirit was rewarded with a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus, his seventh such award at flyweight. That ties him for second-most in divisional history, behind only Johnson's nine.

The event itself was a major success, drawing an announced crowd of 19,357 and generating a live gate of $8.3 million. Total fight time for the 12-bout card was just under two hours. Van's eight-fight win streak at 125 pounds is now the longest active run in the weight class.

Joshua Van's next defense is already set against Manel Kape. That matchup leaves Alexandre Pantoja in a peculiar limbo. He has definitive wins over the champion's next challenger and the other top contenders ranked below him. A third fight with Van seems unlikely after two decisive results. This creates a genuine bottleneck for the 36-year-old Brazilian. His legacy as a former champion who defeated the best of his era is secure. The question is whether there are any compelling fights left that make sense for his health and career trajectory.

Key Takeaways from UFC 331

• Alexandre Pantoja lost a unanimous decision (50-45, 49-47, 49-46) to Joshua Van on Sept. 19, 2026. - Former champion Demetrious Johnson publicly urged Pantoja to retire after the fight. - Pantoja earned a $100,000 bonus, his seventh Fight of the Night award at flyweight.