UFC 331 Sets Up a Dramatic Flyweight Rematch
UFC 331 arrives with one of the most unusual championship rematches in recent UFC history as Joshua Van prepares to defend the flyweight title against former champion Alexandre Pantoja.
The matchup has an obvious source of tension. Van and Pantoja have already shared the Octagon, but their first meeting ended after only 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered an arm injury. Van was awarded the victory and became champion, leaving little opportunity for either fighter to establish what would have happened in a full fight.
Now they finally have the chance to settle the question.
ESPN’s UFC 331 preview highlights Pantoja’s remarkable run at the top of the flyweight division before his title reign ended abruptly. The rematch therefore carries more than championship implications. It is also an opportunity for Pantoja to prove that the first meeting did not reflect the difference between the two fighters.
For Van, the challenge is different. The 24-year-old champion has already defended his belt against Tatsuro Taira, demonstrating that his title-winning performance was not simply the product of circumstance. A second victory over Pantoja would give him an even stronger claim to being the division’s new leading force.
UFC 331 Prediction: Van Has the Momentum
The first major UFC 331 prediction is that Van enters the rematch with significant momentum.
Winning a championship can change a fighter’s career, but defending it is often the harder test. Van has already experienced that pressure.
His victory over Taira gave him valuable championship-round experience and showed that he can remain dangerous deep into a fight. That matters because Pantoja’s greatest strengths often emerge when a bout becomes a physical battle over multiple rounds.
Van’s confidence has also grown.
During the build-up to UFC 331, the champion has become increasingly outspoken about his opponent. The relationship between the two fighters was initially respectful, but the rematch has developed into a much more personal rivalry.
That confidence could help Van. However, it could also create problems if he becomes too emotionally invested.
Against an experienced former champion like Pantoja, discipline will be critical.
UFC 331 Prediction: Pantoja Will Attack the Grappling Exchanges
Pantoja’s clearest path to victory is likely to involve his grappling.
The Brazilian has built much of his UFC success around a dangerous submission game and relentless pressure. His championship run included victories over several of the division’s elite fighters, and he established himself as one of the most experienced competitors in the flyweight title picture.
Van, meanwhile, has demonstrated increasingly dangerous striking.
That creates an obvious strategic battle.
Van wants space.
Pantoja wants to close it.
If Pantoja can force Van backward, connect with strikes that disrupt his rhythm and then transition into takedowns or clinch positions, the challenger can make the fight considerably more difficult for the champion.
The danger for Van is allowing Pantoja to turn every exchange into a grappling sequence.
The champion’s best strategy should be to maintain enough distance to make Pantoja pay for aggressive entries while continuing to attack with combinations.
UFC 331 Prediction: The Rematch Will Go Much Longer
One of the safest UFC 331 predictions is that the rematch will last dramatically longer than the original fight.
The first encounter ended almost immediately after Pantoja’s injury. That result gave neither fighter the opportunity to reveal a complete game plan.
This time, both camps have had months to prepare for the matchup.
Pantoja knows exactly what Van’s physical tools look like.
Van knows that Pantoja will be determined to close the distance and turn the fight into a battle of grappling, pressure and conditioning.
That makes a quick repeat of the first fight unlikely.
A longer contest would also give Van an opportunity to demonstrate that his development has continued since becoming champion.
For Pantoja, meanwhile, every additional minute could be valuable.
The longer the fight becomes, the more opportunities he has to exploit mistakes, force clinches and test Van’s ability to defend submissions.
UFC 331 Prediction: Van’s Boxing Could Be the Difference
Van’s striking may ultimately decide the fight.
The champion has shown a willingness to stay composed while working behind his hands. His boxing allows him to attack from different angles and punish opponents who enter carelessly.
Pantoja cannot afford to simply walk forward.
If he repeatedly enters without setting up his attacks, Van could catch him with clean counters.
That is particularly important because Pantoja needs to get inside to make his grappling effective.
Van’s striking does not have to produce a knockout to be decisive.
Even if he cannot finish Pantoja, consistently winning exchanges at range could allow him to bank rounds and force Pantoja to take greater risks later in the fight.
The champion’s objective should therefore be simple: make every entry expensive.
UFC 331 Prediction: Pantoja Will Have His Best Moments Late
Despite Van’s momentum, it would be a mistake to underestimate Pantoja.
The former champion has spent years competing against elite flyweights. His experience in championship fights is one of the biggest advantages he brings into UFC 331.
If the fight reaches the later rounds, Pantoja could become increasingly dangerous.
Fatigue changes the equation.
A tired fighter becomes easier to grab, easier to control and more likely to make defensive mistakes. Pantoja’s pressure-heavy style is designed to capitalize on exactly those situations.
He also has the mental advantage of knowing that he has already lost the title to Van.
There is no mystery about what is at stake.
Pantoja has one job: reclaim the championship.
That urgency could make him particularly aggressive from the opening bell.
The Biggest Question at UFC 331
The central question is whether Van can prevent Pantoja from turning the fight into his kind of contest.
Van is the younger fighter and has already demonstrated significant improvement. Pantoja has the experience and a more established championship résumé.
The matchup is therefore less about which fighter has more talent and more about whose strengths become dominant.
If Van keeps the fight at range, the champion has a strong chance to control the action.
If Pantoja consistently gets inside, forces clinches and creates grappling exchanges, the balance could shift quickly.
That tactical battle makes UFC 331 especially interesting.
Why Joshua Van Has More to Prove
It may seem strange to say that the champion has more to prove, but Van’s situation is unusual.
His first victory over Pantoja ended so quickly that questions immediately followed.
Some observers could argue that Van never had to demonstrate whether he could defeat Pantoja over three or five rounds.
That criticism became harder to sustain after Van successfully defended his title against Taira.
His victory over Taira showed that he could handle a serious contender and survive the demands of a championship-level fight. Analysts now see UFC 331 as another opportunity for Van to establish himself as a potential long-term UFC star.
A decisive victory over Pantoja would remove much of the remaining uncertainty.
Instead of being the champion who benefited from an unusual title fight ending, Van would become the champion who beat a former champion twice.
That distinction matters.
Why Pantoja Could Still Shock the Division
Pantoja’s motivation should not be overlooked.
A former champion returning for a title fight is already under pressure. In this case, that pressure is amplified because the opponent is the fighter who inherited his championship after the first bout ended through injury.
Pantoja has every reason to believe he can perform differently in a complete fight.
His submission ability remains one of his biggest weapons.
If he gets Van to the ground and establishes a dominant position, the fight could change within seconds.
That means Van cannot afford to become careless simply because he believes his striking advantage will eventually carry him through.
One defensive mistake against a fighter with Pantoja’s grappling ability could be enough to end the contest.
UFC 331 Co-Main Event Adds More Intrigue
The UFC 331 card is not built entirely around the flyweight championship.
The co-main event features Arman Tsarukyan against Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round lightweight contest. The fight has major implications for the lightweight division and could help determine the next group of contenders.
Tsarukyan is viewed as one of the division’s elite talents, while Ruffy has an opportunity to elevate his profile against a highly regarded opponent.
The event also includes former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull against Doo Ho Choi.
Pitbull enters the bout looking to show that he can still produce the form that made him one of Bellator’s most successful fighters. He has publicly acknowledged that his UFC performances have not yet matched the standard he set earlier in his career.
That gives the UFC 331 card several compelling storylines beyond its main event.
Final UFC 331 Prediction
The most likely outcome is a competitive fight that looks nothing like the first meeting.
Pantoja should have success with pressure and grappling. Van should have opportunities to punish him with faster and cleaner boxing.
The key will be whether Pantoja can consistently force the champion into extended grappling exchanges.
If he cannot, Van’s youth, striking and recent championship experience could give him the advantage.
The prediction here is Joshua Van by decision after five competitive rounds.
Pantoja is experienced enough to avoid being overwhelmed early, while Van has enough defensive awareness and striking ability to stay out of prolonged submission danger.
A decision victory would also make an important statement.
Van would not simply be the champion who won the first meeting because of an unusual injury. He would be the fighter who successfully navigated Pantoja’s best weapons over 25 minutes and retained the UFC flyweight championship.
That would give Van a powerful foundation for the next stage of his career.
For Pantoja, however, the danger remains real.
One takedown, one scramble or one submission opportunity could completely change the prediction.
That is why UFC 331 is more than a rematch.
It is the definitive test of whether Joshua Van has truly taken control of the flyweight division — or whether Alexandre Pantoja still has unfinished business at the top.
UFC 331: What to Watch
Three factors could ultimately determine the championship fight:
Van’s distance management: If the champion can keep Pantoja at the end of his punches, he can force the challenger to take risks.
Pantoja’s grappling: The former champion needs to create sustained ground exchanges rather than relying exclusively on striking.
Championship composure: Both fighters have emotional reasons to want a decisive victory. The fighter who remains calm under pressure could have the biggest advantage.
UFC 331 therefore offers something the first meeting never could: a real test.
The first fight produced a shocking ending.
The second one should provide the answers.
