Alexandre Pantoja rematches Joshua Van for UFC flyweight title

Alexandre Pantoja will challenge Joshua Van for the UFC flyweight championship in the main event of UFC 331 on September 19. This is a direct rematch of their December bout where Pantoja, the former champion, suffered an arm injury just seconds into the contest, leading to Van winning the belt. The event takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be available on Paramount+.

Is the Van vs. Pantoja rematch the most anticipated fight of UFC 331?

The main event is an essential rebooking of a fight that ended abruptly. Champion Joshua Van (16-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) will attempt to make his second title defense. Challenger Alexandre Pantoja (30-6 MMA, 14-4 UFC) is looking to reclaim the flyweight crown he lost in that unfortunate first meeting. The promotion officially kicked off the build with a press conference in Philadelphia on Friday, where the two fighters participated in their first intense faceoff.

What other major fights are on the UFC 331 card?

The co-main event is a significant lightweight contest with major title implications. Arman Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) looks to solidify a shot at the 155-pound belt. He faces Mauricio Ruffy (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who has the chance to change his own trajectory with a win. This fight adds considerable depth to a card headlined by the flyweight title rematch.

Which MMA legend is fighting for his UFC career?

Former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull is on the undercard in what could be his final UFC appearance. Pitbull revealed to reporter James Lynch for Home of Fight that he has not had his contract renewed ahead of this fight, which is the last on his current deal. He faces Hall of Famer Doo Ho Choi. Pitbull has lost two of his three UFC fights since joining in 2025, and the promotion's recent history of not re-signing fighters like Muhammad Mokaev and Daniel Marcos adds pressure.

How did the UFC's recent roster decisions set the stage?

The UFC has made several surprising contractual decisions recently that provide context for Pitbull's situation. In 2024, top-five flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was not re-signed. In 2025, Rinat Fakhretdinov was cut despite a 23-fight unbeaten streak. Earlier in 2026, 18-1 bantamweight Daniel Marcos was removed after his contract ended. It is normal practice for the UFC to renegotiate with fighters they plan to keep before the final bout, a step that has not happened for Pitbull. This pattern shows that even established names are not guaranteed security.

• Alexandre Pantoja rematches Joshua Van for the UFC flyweight title on September 19.
• The co-main event features lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy.
• Legend Patricio Pitbull fights Doo Ho Choi on the final bout of his current UFC contract.
• The UFC has a recent pattern of not renewing contracts for notable fighters, adding stakes to undercard bouts.