Alexandre Pantoja Looks to Rocky After Controversial UFC 331

Former UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has suffered a second consecutive defeat to Joshua Van, losing a unanimous decision in the UFC 331 main event on September 16, 2026. The result has sparked debate over the judges' scorecards, even as Pantoja turns to a cinematic icon for motivation in his career's toughest moment.

The California State Athletic Commission's executive director, Andy Foster, has publicly questioned the official scoring from the September 16 title fight. While the official cards read 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47 all for Van, Foster suggested the fight was closer than those numbers indicate.

In his first public response since the loss, Pantoja posted a lengthy quote from the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa about perseverance. His only added words were a thank you to fans for their support. The 36-year-old Brazilian, who won the title in 2023 against Brandon Moreno, now faces a difficult path back to contention after back-to-back losses to the champion.

The UFC 331 bout on September 16 was meant to provide clarity after their first meeting ended in a bizarre 26-second injury TKO win for Van at UFC 323 in December 2025. Pantoja aimed to reclaim the belt he felt was taken by fluke. Van, however, dominated the narrative by outperforming Pantoja over five rounds, defending takedowns and even dropping the former champion in the final frame. Van later admitted he took more punches than he wanted, but his victory was comprehensive.

Ahead of the rematch, UFC commentator Joe Rogan referred to Van's first win as an "accidental" victory due to the quick injury. Van, who looks up to Rogan, said the comment genuinely bothered him. "It was kind of messed up he said that," Van stated, though he expressed respect for the podcast host. He used that perceived slight as fuel, proving his legitimacy with a decisive five-round performance.

• Alexandre Pantoja lost a unanimous decision to Joshua Van in the UFC 331 main event on September 16, 2026.
• CSAC's Andy Foster has questioned the judges' wide scorecards from that fight.
• Pantoja is drawing inspiration from Rocky Balboa quotes as he processes the defeat.
• Champion Joshua Van was motivated by Joe Rogan's dismissal of his first win over Pantoja.