Joshua Van Wins UFC 331 Rematch Against Pantoja.
UFC 331 goes Saturday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Van defends the flyweight belt against Pantoja in a rematch nine months after an injury-shortened first fight.
- Van won the first meeting via first-round TKO after Pantoja injured his arm 26 seconds in.
- Van is a slight favorite at -130 odds; Pantoja enters at +110.
- Tsarukyan is ranked No. 2 at lightweight; Ruffy is ranked No. 10.
- Ruffy says the UFC promised him a title shot if he defeats Tsarukyan.
Why it matters: The co-main event carries stakes that extend well beyond Saturday night. A Tsarukyan loss could close his path to a title shot, while a Ruffy win vaults a lower-ranked contender straight into championship contention.
- In January 2025, Tsarukyan withdrew from an Islam Makhachev title fight at UFC 311 hours before the weigh-in, citing back issues.
- Tsarukyan said on his YouTube channel: 'If I lose this fight, I'm never going to see a title fight.'
How 14 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides on which fight matters more: betting-focused outlets treat Van vs. Pantoja as the card's centerpiece, while USA Today argues the co-main carries the greater career consequences.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center focuses on the co-main's career stakes and Tsarukyan's self-inflicted jeopardy, arguing that fight carries more consequence than the championship bout.
Left coverage, 5 sources: The left frames the event around Van's need to legitimize a title won under unusual circumstances, noting he remains a divisive champion until he beats Pantoja cleanly.
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right treats the card primarily as a betting opportunity, centering Van vs. Pantoja as the marquee matchup and highlighting sportsbook promotions around it.
What’s next: The winner of Tsarukyan-Ruffy enters contention against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.
- Flyweight contender Brandon Royval, who lost to both Van and Pantoja, could face the main-event loser.
- Will Dana White follow through on a title shot for Ruffy, and does Tsarukyan's misconduct record factor into that decision regardless of tonight's result?
- Can Van silence doubts about his title legitimacy with a decisive win over a healthy Pantoja?
