Twenty-six seconds. That is all it took for Alexandre Pantoja’s 29-month reign over the UFC flyweight division to screech to an abrupt halt.
When Pantoja stepped into the cage against Joshua Van last December at UFC 323, nobody expected a freak arm injury to write the ending. Van walked away with the belt, but the division was left with a massive asterisk. Now, at UFC 331 inside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Pantoja gets his chance to clear up the confusion. Also making waves recently: Why Uefa Refuses To Change Its Rules For Ireland And Israel.
If you think this immediate rematch is just a formality, you haven't been paying attention to how fast the 125-pound weight class moves.
The Flukes and Facts of the First Meeting
Let's be honest about what happened in that opening clash. The highlight reels show Van claiming the championship, but the timeline tells a more complicated story. Pantoja threw a high kick that Van caught, turning it into a scramble where Pantoja's elbow collapsed as he braced his fall. Additional details on this are detailed by Sky Sports.
Before the stoppage at the 0:26 mark, Pantoja was actually connecting. He landed multiple significant strikes and looked sharp. It wasn't a masterclass of a beatdown; it was a freak structural failure.
Van didn't waste time whining about the circumstances, though. He took the belt, defended it against Tatsuro Taira in a grueling fifth-round TKO battle in May, and cemented his status as a legitimate champion. Van earned his spot at the top. But Pantoja never actually lost a fight for his belt—he lost an arm. That distinction keeps the former champion awake at night.
What Pantoja Has to Prove at UFC 331
At 36 years old, time isn't on Pantoja's side. In a division defined by blinding speed, an eleven-year age gap against the 24-year-old Van is a massive hurdle. Fighters don't usually get second acts after suffering freak injuries late in their careers.
Yet Pantoja's resume speaks for itself. Before running into Van, he took the belt from Brandon Moreno and defended it four consecutive times against elite contenders like Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France. That is a championship legacy built on grit, submission threat, and durability.
Pantoja wants to join an exclusive club tonight. Only two other flyweights in UFC history—Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo—have successfully reclaimed the championship after losing it. If Pantoja pulls this off, he erases the 26-second blemish and proves his era wasn't finished.
How Van Plans to Stop the Comeback
Van knows the narrative. He hears the fans talking about the injury, and it fuels him. The young champion has a straightforward game plan for the rematch. He expects Pantoja to push the pace early, trying to recapture his lost glory before the younger fighter's cardio takes over.
Van's strategy relies on weathering that initial storm, letting the challenger empty his gas tank, and then drowning him in volume. Van told reporters that Pantoja might try to switch things up, but deep down, a veteran fighter reverts to muscle memory once fatigue sets in.
What to Watch For in the Main Event
Expect chaos from the opening bell. Pantoja cannot afford to pace himself or let Van settle into a rhythm. He has to take risks. If he plays it safe, Van's precise counterstriking and youth will take over over five rounds.
Look for Pantoja to target takedowns and clinch work early to test Van's defensive wrestling, steering clear of wild kick catches that could lead to another scramble. Van will look to keep it standing, utilizing his length and speed to pick apart the former champ.
Tune into the main card on Paramount+ or catch it live in Los Angeles to see if the veteran gets his belt back or if the young guard shuts the door permanently.
