UFC 331 Championship Rematch
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja Headline UFC 331 Rematch in Los Angeles
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Key Points
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PatrÃcio Pitbull is 1-2 since joining the UFC from Bellator in 2024, while Doo-ho Choi enters the matchup on a three-fight winning streak.
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Renato Moicano is coming off a submission victory, whereas Brian Ortega has lost four of his last five fights.
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Iwo Baraniewski is undefeated across nine professional fights and has gone 3-0 in the UFC; Alonzo Menifield’s previous bout ended in a first-round TKO victory.
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The preliminary card includes Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf, Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain, Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne, and Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira.
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Additional preliminary bouts are Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito, Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura, Ryan Gandra vs. Osman Diaz, and Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Yoo Joo-sang.
UFC 331 lands in Los Angeles on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena with a flyweight title rematch headlining the card. Joshua Van will defend his UFC gold against Alexandre Pantoja after their first fight ended early due to injury. MMA Sucka reports that fellow flyweight Brandon Moreno has thrown his support behind Van's title defense.
The co-main event features Arman Tsarukyan taking on MaurÃcio Ruffy after a planned Charles Oliveira rematch fell through. Tsarukyan brings a five-fight winning streak to the octagon, while Ruffy arrives off back-to-back knockout victories. The main card rounds out with four more fights headlined by PatrÃcio Pitbull versus Doo-ho Choi.
Van Predicts Quick Victory in Flyweight Title Rematch
Joshua Van is confident heading into his championship rematch. TWSN reports that Van has sent a bold warning to Pantoja, predicting he will retain his title within three rounds. Van has identified what he sees as a hole in Pantoja's game and believes he can exploit it early.
Van recently trained with Alexander Volkanovski ahead of the title defense. Yahoo Sports notes that Van described learning significantly from watching Volkanovski train. The champion views this preparation as key to his success against Pantoja in their second meeting.
Tsarukyan Faces Hot Prospect Ruffy in Co-Main Event
Arman Tsarukyan arrives at UFC 331 riding an impressive five-fight winning streak. The lightweight will meet MaurÃcio Ruffy, who has captured momentum with consecutive knockout victories. This matchup replaces a planned rematch between Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira that fell through.
Ruffy enters as a dangerous striker in form. His back-to-back stoppage wins have positioned him as a top contender in the division. Tsarukyan's wrestling and consistency will be tested against Ruffy's explosive power and precision.
Main Card Showcases Contrasting Fighter Trajectories
PatrÃcio Pitbull faces Doo-ho Choi in a striking-heavy matchup. Pitbull sits at 1-2 since joining the UFC from Bellator in 2024 and needs a win. Choi, however, enters on a three-fight winning streak and represents a serious test for the former Bellator champion.
Renato Moicano battles Brian Ortega in the featherweight division. Moicano is riding confidence after a recent submission victory, while Ortega has struggled with four losses in his last five fights. Alonzo Menifield squares off with undefeated Iwo Baraniewski in a light heavyweight clash. Baraniewski is 3-0 in the UFC and has never tasted defeat in nine professional fights. Menifield earned his last win via first-round TKO.
Stacked Preliminary Card Adds Depth to the Event
UFC 331's preliminary card is loaded with exciting matchups. Gable Steveson faces Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight bout. Marlon Vera takes on Charles Jourdain, while Tai Tuivasa meets Robelis Despaigne. Edmen Shahbazyan faces Brunno Ferreira in another preliminary slot.
Four additional preliminary bouts round out the full card. Giga Chikadze battles Joanderson Brito, Casey O'Neill faces Eduarda Moura, Ryan Gandra meets Osman Diaz, and Michael Aswell Jr. takes on Yoo Joo-sang. The depth of talent on the preliminary card gives fans an entire day of mixed martial arts action from Los Angeles.
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