Joshua Van successfully defended his UFC flyweight championship against Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch at UFC 331 held in Los Angeles. The 24-year-old fighter from Myanmar defeated Pantoja for the second time, extending his professional record to 18 wins and 2 losses.
Van’s first victory over Pantoja occurred in December 2025, when the Brazilian suffered an accidental elbow dislocation just 26 seconds into their initial encounter. That quick conclusion led some observers to question the legitimacy of Van’s title claim. The rematch provided Van an opportunity to silence doubters by demonstrating his dominance over a full fight. Pantoja, aged 36, presented himself as a formidable challenger seeking redemption after the previous injury-shortened bout.
The fight unfolded across five rounds, with action distributed throughout the contest. Pantoja secured a takedown in the opening round and landed significant strikes including heavy punches and knees, with Van responding with elbow strikes. During the second round, Van utilized left-handed jabs and connected with a combination that rocked his opponent. Pantoja managed to control the fourth round by executing another takedown but failed to achieve a submission. In the fifth and final round, Van pursued Pantoja aggressively and dropped him with an overhand right punch, ultimately securing victory on the judges’ scorecards.
Van, who relocated to the United States at age 12, holds the distinction of being the first UFC champion born in the 2000s. He previously defended the title against Tatsuro Taira in May. On the same card, Scottish fighter Casey O’Neill also recorded a victory, defeating Eduarda Moura by armbar submission.
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