UFC 331 Fight Card and Matchup Overview
UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena on Sept. 19 features a flyweight title rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja, along with several contender bouts that could determine future title opportunities.
UFC 331 will be staged at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event’s five-round main card begins at 9 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on Paramount+.
The headline bout is a flyweight title rematch as champion Joshua Van faces former champion Alexandre Pantoja. Their first encounter ended after 30 seconds due to an injury to Pantoja, and the pair will now have a full five rounds to settle the rivalry.
In the co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan meets Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight contender fight that could earn the winner a shot at the division’s champion, Justin Gaethje, who is currently in negotiations for a rematch with Ilia Topuria.
The main card also includes a featherweight clash between Patricio Pitbull and Doo Ho Choi, a heavyweight bout featuring Gable Steveson against Sean Sharaf, and a light-heavyweight matchup of Alonzo Menifield versus Iwo Baraniewski.
Preliminary fights on the card feature Charles Jourdain defeating Marlon Vera, Robelis Despaigne over Tai Tuivasa, Joo Sang Yoo beating Michael Aswell, Ryan Gandra beating Ozzy Diaz, Edmen Shahbazyan defeating Brunno Ferreira, and Casey O’Neill prevailing over Eduarda Moura.
"We expect the Van-Pantoja fight to be a decisive test of both fighters’ abilities over a full five-round championship distance," a UFC spokesperson said.
"The winner of the Tsarukyan-Ruffy bout will likely be positioned for a future lightweight title opportunity," the organization added.
Analysts note that Van, at 24, has shown significant improvement since his previous fight, while Pantoja, 36, brings extensive experience but may face challenges with the longer bout duration. The outcomes of the co-main and undercard fights could shape the next round of title contenders across multiple divisions.