UFC 331: Van Vs Pantoja 2 Preview, Odds, Picks And Fight Breakdown

For UFC 331, we get a rerun of the flyweight rematch in Los Angeles between Van and Pantoja. Joshua Van’s UFC flyweight title is on the line as he faces former champion Alexandre Pantoja. The event takes place on September 19 at the Crypto.com Arena.

There is an interesting backstory behind the main bout. Van took the belt from Pantoja at UFC 323. However, the fight was stopped after 26 seconds when Pantoja dislocated his elbow. Van then defended his title for the first time with a fifth-round stoppage victory via strikes against Tatsuro Taira. 

Now Pantoja has another shot at reclaiming his title belt, while Van has the opportunity to make up for the last result by this time hopefully not winning through the opponent’s injury.

A Generational Bout

This fight goes beyond being just a typical rematch. Pantoja’s arm injury led to the early end of their previous match at UFC 323. Therefore, there are many things still left for both fighters to prove in this upcoming title match.

There is no doubt what Van will be trying to achieve in his next match. The main thing he wants is to show that he deserves to be at the top of the division and that his title win was not only due to his opponent’s injuries. Pantoja was once considered to be one of the best flyweight fighters in UFC history, and he intends to regain that position and reputation.

• Van wants to defeat Pantoja in a full fight that is not determined by any injuries.
• UFC 331 will give Pantoja another chance to prove himself in this weight category.
• It is clear that the rematch will be used to determine their skill as fighters.
• A lot of pressure comes from the fact that the title is on the line.

Van Vs Pantoja 2 Breakdown

It’s smart to get familiar with expert picks and predictions for UFC 331, especially for readers who want to compare different opinions before making their own bet. This fight is especially tough because both fighters have a very clear chance of winning.

Van is much younger and a faster striker. At 24 years old and with 65 inches of height and a 65-inch reach, he has a record of 17 wins with seven successive victories. His biggest asset is his speed of 8.43 significant strikes per minute, which is the highest rate in UFC flyweight division history.

On the contrary, Pantoja has a more balanced style of fighting. He is a good striker, has a solid clinching game, and can even easily submit his opponents. Pantoja has a rate of 4.38 significant strikes per minute, 2.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, and 0.98 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Van’s Biggest Edge

One of Van’s greatest strengths is his pace and tempo which allows him to maintain a high-volume attack that pushes his opponents onto the defensive. Van’s victory over Royval in June 2025 indicated that he can handle a faster pace of the fight, while his victory over Taira proved that he can apply pressure in title defence fights.

Pantoja’s Advantage

Pantoja needs to close the distance between himself and Van. Once Pantoja is able to close the gap, he will make Van work on defending takedown attempts. Pantoja has a record of 12 professional submissions as well as impressive UFC takedown and submission statistics. What distinguishes him from recent opponents of Van is his ability to adapt.

Van’s Rise To The Belt

The rise of Van has been an extraordinary one. Born in Hakha, Myanmar, Van entered the UFC in 2023 and quickly became one of the most dominant and exciting athletes in the division. Van’s streak includes impressive victories against seasoned flyweight opponents as well as a title opportunity that he did not squander.

Defending the title for the first time has to be considered the most crucial match in Van’s career to date. In UFC 328, Van went through four complete rounds and knocked down Taira in the fifth round. This victory proves that Van is capable of maintaining his pace throughout a five-round bout, which is very important in a fight with Pantoja.

Pantoja’s Back

Pantoja has proven to be resilient enough to recover from disappointment. Prior to fighting Van in the octagon, Pantoja had been enjoying a great streak. In June 2025, he defeated Kara-France by rear-naked choke in the third round following his title defense. This performance, only a few months prior to competing against Van, proved that Pantoja’s grappling skills are still a big problem for those who are trying to defeat him.

As far as the physical preparation of Pantoja is concerned, we can see that Pantoja has recovered from his injury and has properly returned to contention. At the same time, Pantoja now knows more about how Van can perform in the first seconds of a fight. Of course, this does not provide a complete answer or solution for Pantoja to win this fight, but it provides him with some additional information.

What Could Decide the Rematch

The biggest question in the rematch is whether Van can keep the fight at the pace and distance he prefers. His speed and striking volume are dangerous when he has space to work, but Pantoja can change the rhythm by forcing clinches and making Van defend between exchanges. That will make the opening rounds especially important as each fighter will be looking to establish the kind of fight that suits his style.

Another factor is how both fighters respond to the pressure of a second fight against each other. Van has the title and the confidence of a successful first defense, while Pantoja has the experience of fighting in major UFC title bouts and now has a chance to put the unfinished first matchup behind him.

How Both Fighters Could Adjust

The fight may well be different since both have now had the time to prepare themselves for their rematch fight. The first adjustment can involve Van attempting to utilize his agility and his ability to strike from a distance more than just getting into the clinch position by Pantoja.

Pantoja will likely attempt to cut off the octagon for Van. Van will need to take into account how much energy he burns trying to maintain his speed through all five rounds of their match-up.

Tsarukyan vs Ruffy

The co-main event is a five-round bout in the lightweight division between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy. Tsarukyan is currently No. 2 in the rankings and has a record of five straight wins, while Ruffy is steadily building momentum and most recently stopped Michael Chandler via knockout.

Tsarukyan’s wrestling ability and dominant control are going to be the biggest factor in this fight. This will be a difficult opponent for him since Ruffy has quick and dangerous footwork, which can end the fight quickly. Tsarukyan’s approach to the fight has been clear and says that this fight is essentially win-or-go-home for his chances at a title bout.

UFC 331 Will Have Plenty of Fights To Watch

There are many other famous fighters who appear on the card as well. Patricio Pitbull is going to fight Dooho Choi in the featherweight category, while Alonzo Menifield squares off with Iwo Baraniewski. In the bantamweight category, we have a bout between Marlon Vera and Charles Jourdain, while Tai Tuivasa battles Robelis Despaigne in the heavyweight match-up. We also have Gable Steveson taking on Sean Sharaf in the heavyweight category.

Before we start discussing our preview of previous months for this fight card, let us point out one significant change that was made recently. Renato Moicano versus Brian Ortega fight has been taken out of UFC 331 due to Ortega’s injury. Renato Moicano will headline a future October event versus Tom Nolan.

UFC 331 Odds To Know

The fight lines give a useful picture of how the market currently sees the event. UFC’s listed odds have Van at -125 and Pantoja at +100 for the main event. That makes Van a small favorite rather than a heavy one, which fits the matchup. The market is giving the champion an edge, but not treating Pantoja like he isn’t capable of winning the fight.

Tsarukyan is at -380 against Ruffy at +300, while Pitbull is a +200 underdog against Choi at -250. Menifield is at +190 against Baraniewski at -230, Vera at +200 against Jourdain at -245, Tuivasa at +500 against Despaigne at -700, and Casey O’Neill at -180 against Eduarda Moura at +150. Keep in mind these usually move before fight night.

UFC 331 Betting

The ideal approach is to begin by looking at the matchup and seeing how much value the odds have. Even if a fighter has the highest chance of winning a bout, they may have poor value in case of mild odds. This also works vice versa. A plus-money underdog does not become an automatically good choice only because of the favorable odds. In the case of Van and Pantoja, the main issue is whether the market has priced the champion properly regarding his pace vs. Pantoja.

Props are more exciting than betting on the winner. A bout involving Van causes people to pay attention to significant strike totals in the fight due to his volume. Pantoja’s bouts, on the other hand, can make people wonder about possible submissions or ways the fight ends. The optimal approach here would be to compare the expected shape of the fight to what the market offers rather than try to predict each round of the bout. The right approach is to risk limited amounts of money.

UFC 331 Without Overthinking It 

The safest way to approach UFC 331 is to study the full card first and then decide which markets actually fit the expected fight styles. Those interested in betting on UFC 331 can compare the available lines, but odds should always be checked again close to the event because prices can move as money comes in, injuries are confirmed, and weigh-ins are completed.