Joshua Van delivered a strong performance at UFC 331, earning a win over Alexandre Pantoja in a five-round contest. The event took place in Los Angeles and featured several high-level fights, with Van’s victory standing out as one of the most impressive. Van’s opponent in this bout was Alexandre Pantoja, who came into the match with a record of 30-7 overall and 14-5 in the UFC. Pantoja pushed hard from the start, often taking control in striking exchanges during the first round. Despite the tough early going, Van managed to gain an edge and ultimately secured the victory.
Van won by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 50-45. The victory marked his second successful defense of the UFC flyweight championship.
After the fight, Van shared a surprising detail about his preparation that had limited his training, according to MMA Junkie. He revealed that he suffered an AC joint tear in his right shoulder prior to the event and was unable to spar for most of his training camp. Van said the final two weeks of camp were the first time he had been able to resume sparring.
Van said he had to rely mostly on cardio work during much of his preparation before the bout. He plans to have an MRI and further medical examinations to determine the extent of the shoulder injury.
This was not Van’s first fight with Pantoja, as the two had previously met in a match that ended in controversy. In their previous encounter, Van was awarded the victory after Pantoja suffered an elbow injury just 26 seconds into the fight. The injury ended Pantoja’s championship reign and made Van the UFC flyweight champion. This time around, Van did not face any such setbacks and went on to dominate the fight.
Van described Pantoja as a mentally strong fighter who did not show signs of being hurt even when he clearly had taken damage. He added that Pantoja’s toughness made the fight more interesting and challenging.
Van also spoke about his mindset going into this rematch, saying he had no need to prove anything to anyone. He emphasized that he sees himself as fearless and does not choose his opponents based on who might be easier to beat.
Van’s performance at UFC 331 has drawn attention from fans and analysts alike, with many calling him a rising star in the flyweight division. His combination of youth, skill, and personality suggests he could become one of the top fighters in the sport.
Looking ahead, Manel Kape appears to be one of the leading candidates to challenge Van next. CBS Sports identified Kape as a logical opponent following UFC 331. Kape’s record stands at 23-7 overall and 8-3 in the UFC, with his last four wins coming by way of knockout, CBS Sports reported.
The matchup between Van and Kape would pit two powerful strikers against each other, with different strengths. Van brings finesse to the ring, while Kape is known for his one-shot power.
This fight could go either way but is expected to be highly entertaining. Other potential matchups have also been discussed, including a matchup between Pantoja and Asu Almabayev following Pantoja’s loss to Van. CBS Sports suggested the fight as one possible way to determine where Pantoja fits in the division after his second straight loss to Van.
The event also featured a strong performance by Arman Tsarukyan, who knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in the first round. Tsarukyan’s win strengthened his case for another title shot. He had to overcome adversity early in the fight when Ruffy landed a hard blow that nearly closed his eye. Despite the danger, Tsarukyan managed to finish Ruffy with elbows.
UFC reported that Tsarukyan landed two hard elbows late in the first round and stopped Ruffy at 4:56. The victory extended Tsarukyan’s winning streak to six fights and kept him near the front of the UFC lightweight title picture.
The night’s results have set up several future fights in both flyweight and lightweight divisions.
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