Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-18 · by W.g. Ramirez The Associated Press
UFC 331 in Los Angeles will feature a rematch between flyweight champion Joshua Van and former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja, scheduled for Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. Their first meeting ended abruptly when Pantoja sustained an injury just 26 seconds into the fight, resulting in a technical knockout win for Van. The rematch aims to settle whether Van can secure his status as the division's undisputed leader or if Pantoja will become only the third fighter to hold the flyweight title twice. Both fighters discuss their readiness and ambitions; Van asserts he will prove himself against Pantoja, while Pantoja seeks respect for the division by beating a reigning champion under normal conditions.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
UFC 331 arrives Saturday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles with a flyweight championship rematch carrying far more intrigue than the official result of the first meeting suggests.
uncertain
result → arrive → meeting
Champion Joshua Van attempts to remove any lingering doubt surrounding his reign, while former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja returns determined to reclaim a championship he never lost in conventional fashion.
asserted
he → attempt → fashion
Van captured the title at UFC 323 in December when Pantoja suffered a severe arm and elbow injury only 26 seconds into the opening round.
asserted
Pantoja → capture → round
The injury occurred after Pantoja caught a kick but landed awkwardly while attempting to brace his fall.
asserted
Pantoja → occur → fall
Van was awarded a technical knockout, but the abbreviated fight revealed little about how the two compare over a full contest.
asserted
two → award → contest
That uncertainty creates Saturday’s central question: Can Van defeat Pantoja decisively?
asserted
Van → create → Pantoja
“He’s a very, very dangerous guy,” the 24-year-old said.
asserted
old → ’ → ?
“He’s going to be motivated, he’s going to be hungrier, and I think this will be the best Pantoja we’ll see.
asserted
we → go → ?
“This time, you guys will see a different level of Joshua Van.
asserted
guys → see → Van
When I beat him, I will be one of the greats in this division.”
asserted
I → beat → division
Van enters with a 17-2 record and seven consecutive victories.
asserted
Van → enter → record
Fighting out of Houston, the Myanmar-born champion has recorded nine knockouts, two submissions and three first-round finishes.
asserted
champion → fight → knockouts
His resume includes victories over Brandon Royval, Pantoja and Tatsuro Taira, whom he stopped in the fifth round at UFC 328 during his first successful title defense.
asserted
he → include → defense
The Taira victory demonstrated that Van could handle an elite challenger across an extended fight.
uncertain
Van → demonstrate → fight
He maintained his pressure, survived difficult moments and secured a late stoppage instead of merely protecting an early advantage.
asserted
He → maintain → advantage
Now ranked No. 11 on the UFC men’s pound-for-pound list, Van has an opportunity to establish himself as the division’s unquestioned leader by defeating its former standard-bearer under normal circumstances.
Pantoja enters the rematch with a 30-6 record, the No. 1 flyweight ranking and the No. 13 position in the men’s pound-for-pound standings.
asserted
Pantoja → rank → standings
The Brazilian has eight knockout victories, 12 submissions and 10 first-round finishes, with notable wins over Kai Kara-France, Kai Asakura, Steve Erceg, Brandon Moreno and Royval.
asserted
Brazilian → have → France
Before suffering the injury, Pantoja had successfully defended the championship four times.
asserted
Pantoja → suffer → championship
His relentless pressure, physical grappling and submission ability made him one of the UFC’s most dependable champions.
asserted
him → make → champions
He now seeks to become the third two-time flyweight champion in UFC history, joining Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo.
asserted
He → seek → Moreno
“My whole life I’ve just focused on myself,” Pantoja said.
asserted
Pantoja → focus → myself
“I don’t look at Moreno and Figueiredo; both are very good fighters. ...
asserted
both → look → Moreno
I fight my whole life to fight the best fighters in the world.
asserted
I → fight → world
Saturday night I have this chance to beat the champion of the world.
asserted
I → have → world
“I think it’s a new era for the flyweight division.
asserted
it → think → division
I think everyone is starting to respect the division.
asserted
everyone → think → division
The contrast should produce a fascinating tactical battle.
asserted
contrast → produce → battle
Van is the younger, faster combination striker, while Pantoja brings championship experience, suffocating grappling and proven five-round endurance.
asserted
Pantoja → bring → experience
Van can transform an unconventional title victory into an authoritative championship statement.
asserted
Van → transform → statement
Pantoja can complete his recovery, reclaim the throne and remind the division why he remained champion until one awkward landing changed everything.
___
asserted
landing → complete → everything
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