UFC 331 highlights: Joshua Van defends title, Arman Tsarukyan earns lightweight shot
Joshua Van retained his flyweight championship in a five-round bout against Alexandre Pantoja, while Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy to position himself for a lightweight title fight.
Joshua Van successfully defended his UFC flyweight title on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, winning a five-round rematch against former champion Alexandre Pantoja. The 24-year-old secured a knockdown in the final round and maintained his lead on the judges’ scorecards, marking his second title defense in just over three years with the UFC.
In the co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan delivered a first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy, strengthening his claim for a future lightweight championship bout. The victory gave Tsarukyan his sixth consecutive win and placed him ahead of other contenders in the division.
The card also featured a notable upset as Olympic gold-medalist Gable Steveson was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in 12 seconds, highlighting the challenges faced by athletes transitioning to mixed-martial arts with limited professional experience.
Overall, UFC 331 provided a series of decisive finishes and competitive matchups, underscoring the depth of talent across multiple weight classes.