# UFC 331
**UFC 331** (branded Crypto.com UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2) was a numbered mixed martial arts event produced by the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship), held on September 19, 2026 at [Crypto.com Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/crypto-com-arena) in Los Angeles, California. It was headlined by a flyweight championship rematch between reigning champion [Joshua Van](https://www.edgepedia.org/joshua-van) and former long-reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja, whose first meeting had ended in injury less than 30 seconds in.[1](https://www.ufc.com/news/updates-cryptocom-ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) • [2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | Saturday, September 19, 2026, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles[1](https://www.ufc.com/news/updates-cryptocom-ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) |
| Main event | Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2, for the UFC flyweight championship[3](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/news/ufc-331-fight-card-predictions-joshua-van-alexandre-pantoja-odds-expert-picks/) |
| First meeting | At UFC 323 in December 2025, Pantoja suffered a dislocated elbow 26 seconds in when Van fell and landed on him, and Van took the belt[4](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) |
| Co-main event | Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy, a five-round lightweight contender bout[5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/cartelera-completa-del-ufc-331-combates-orden-y-horarios-mas-alla-del-van-vs-pantoja-2-f202609-n/) |
| Broadcast | Full card on Paramount+ in the United States with no pay-per-view charge; early prelims on UFC Fight Pass[4](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) |
| Card change | Brian Ortega's injury removed his lightweight bout with Renato Moicano, who was moved to an October 31 UFC Fight Night main event against Tom Nolan[1](https://www.ufc.com/news/updates-cryptocom-ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) |
## Background of the main event
The rivalry began at [UFC 323](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-323) in December 2025. Van, then a 24-year-old contender, won the flyweight championship when Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury, a dislocated elbow, less than 30 seconds into their fight after Van fell and landed on him.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions) • [4](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2)
The two men came in from opposite positions. Van had defended the title once, defeating Tatsuro Taira at [UFC 328](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-328) in May 2026, with his striking and speed credited for the win.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions) • [4](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) Pantoja, 36, had been a long-reigning champion with title victories over [Brandon Moreno](https://www.edgepedia.org/brandon-moreno), Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and [Kai Kara-France](https://www.edgepedia.org/kai-kara-france) on his record, and a win would have made him the third flyweight champion to regain the belt after Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo.[4](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) The nine-month layoff since the injury was seen as good for his health but a possible source of ring rust.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
## Co-main event and lightweight picture
The co-main event pitted [Arman Tsarukyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/arman-tsarukyan), ranked No. 2 in the lightweight division, against No. 10-ranked Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil, who came in off an impressive victory over [Michael Chandler](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-chandler). The bout was scheduled for five rounds and billed as a likely title eliminator for the belt held by [Justin Gaethje](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-gaethje), though Gaethje was simultaneously in a public dispute with a rematch-hungry Ilia Topuria, leaving no guarantee that the winner would get the next shot.[5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/cartelera-completa-del-ufc-331-combates-orden-y-horarios-mas-alla-del-van-vs-pantoja-2-f202609-n/) • [2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
Tsarukyan's place on the card carried its own history. In January 2025 he was set to challenge then-champion [Islam Makhachev](https://www.edgepedia.org/islam-makhachev) but withdrew one day before the fight with a back injury, after which UFC CEO Dana White sidelined him and publicly dismissed his situation. Tsarukyan kept winning in the meantime and raised his profile through social media content.[6](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/tsarukyan-y-la-oportunidad-innegable-f202609-n/) Stylistically, analysts framed the bout as a grappler against a striker, with Ruffy's knockout power, including spinning kicks, set against Tsarukyan's wrestling and control.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
## Fight card
The event ran three segments: a three-fight early preliminary card, a four-fight preliminary card, and a five-fight main card.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions) The announced lineup included:[5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/cartelera-completa-del-ufc-331-combates-orden-y-horarios-mas-alla-del-van-vs-pantoja-2-f202609-n/)
- Joshua Van vs. [Alexandre Pantoja](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexandre-pantoja), flyweight title
- Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy, lightweight
- Patricio Pitbull vs. [Choi Doo-ho](https://www.edgepedia.org/choi-doo-ho), featherweight
- [Renato Moicano](https://www.edgepedia.org/renato-moicano) vs. Tom Nolan, lightweight (later removed; Moicano was rescheduled)[1](https://www.ufc.com/news/updates-cryptocom-ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2)
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski, light heavyweight
- Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf, heavyweight
- Marlon "Chito" Vera vs. Charles Jourdain, bantamweight
- Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne, heavyweight
- Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Yoo Joo-sang, featherweight
- Ryan Gandra vs. Osman Diaz, middleweight
- Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira, middleweight
- Casey O'Neill vs. Eduarda Moura, flyweight
- Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito, featherweight
Several prelims carried narrative weight. [Marlon Vera](https://www.edgepedia.org/marlon-vera) and Tai Tuivasa were both trying to halt lengthy losing streaks, Edmen Shahbazyan faced a pivotal middleweight test against Brunno Ferreira, and returning heavyweight Robelis Despaigne entered as a heavy betting favorite over Tuivasa.[7](https://www.covers.com/ufc/331-predictions-prelims-picks-odds) The Menifield bout was framed as a test of the unbeaten-in-the-UFC Polish prospect Baraniewski, none of whose UFC fights had lasted longer than 90 seconds, against a veteran in Menifield approaching 20 UFC appearances.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
## Broadcast and coverage
UFC 331 was part of the promotion's Paramount+ era in the United States: the entire event streamed on Paramount+ with no separate pay-per-view purchase, with early prelims also available on UFC Fight Pass, and full fight replays available on demand to subscribers.[4](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2) • [8](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/how-to-watch-ufc-331/) The main card was scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, with prelims at 7 p.m. ET and early prelims at 5:30 p.m. ET.[2](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
## References
1. [Updates To Crypto.com UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/updates-cryptocom-ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2)
2. [UFC 331 predictions, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/510530/ufc-331-predictions)
3. [UFC 331 fight card predictions: Expert picks for Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/news/ufc-331-fight-card-predictions-joshua-van-alexandre-pantoja-odds-expert-picks/)
4. [How to watch UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 live streams, no PPV, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/sport/ufc-331-van-vs-pantoja-2)
5. [Cartelera completa del UFC 331, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/cartelera-completa-del-ufc-331-combates-orden-y-horarios-mas-alla-del-van-vs-pantoja-2-f202609-n/)
6. [Tsarukyan y la oportunidad innegable, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/tsarukyan-y-la-oportunidad-innegable-f202609-n/)
7. [UFC 331 Predictions, Picks & Odds: UFC 331 Prelims Best Bets, Covers.com](https://www.covers.com/ufc/331-predictions-prelims-picks-odds)
8. [How To Watch UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 On Demand, Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/how-to-watch-ufc-331/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › UFC numbered events since 301*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license