Twenty-six seconds created a champion. They did not settle a rivalry, and now we have UFC 331.
- Van vs. Pantoja Best Bet 1: Bet on Joshua Van to win at 1.68 at ibet.
- Van vs. Pantoja Best Bet 2: Bet on the over 2 ½ rounds at 1.59 at ibet.
- Find the best UFC odds at ibet sportsbook!
UFC 331
Joshua Van left UFC 323 with the flyweight belt after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak elbow injury almost as soon as their first fight began. Van has since strengthened his claim to the throne with a dramatic fifth-round finish over Tatsuro Taira, but Pantoja never truly lost his crown in combat. Now, he is back to collect it.
That unfinished business headlines UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena. Van arrives younger, faster, and riding a seven-fight winning streak. Pantoja brings years of championship experience, suffocating grappling, and the anger of a man who believes the belt changed hands on a technicality.
So, does Van turn an accidental beginning into a definitive ending, or does Pantoja reclaim the championship he still considers his? Let’s get into my complete fight breakdown, UFC predictions, and Van vs Pantoja 2 best bets to play at ibet.
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Van vs. Pantoja 2 UFC 331: Tale of the Tape
| Joshua Van | Alexandre Pantoja | |
| Country | Myanmar | Brazil |
| Age | 24 | 36 |
| Pro Record (Win/Loss) | 17-2-0 | 30-6-0 |
| KO/Submission | 9 KOs, 2 Submissions | 8 KOs, 12 Submissions |
| Height | 5’5” | 5’5” |
| Reach | 65” | 68” |
| Win/Loss (Last 5) | W/W/W/W/W | L/W/W/W/W |
| Moneyline Price | 1.68 [-147] | 2.05 [+105] |
Inside the Octagon UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja Prediction & Analysis
The Future of the Flyweight Division
Can you imagine being the future of the 125lb weight class but also the current flyweight division champion? Well, look no further, because this young man is all that and then some.
A UFC debut at age 20, three years and 10 fights later, Joshua “The Fearless” Van became the second-youngest UFC champion in history. He captured the flyweight title via a freak injury last December against Alexandre Pantoja, and that unquestionably put an asterisk on his name. However, there’s no denying a shift, which arrived sharply after that title win.
In his first title defence against legitimate wrestling talent Tatsuro Taira, Van showed how his grappling efficiency had improved, and after a gruelling battle, a fifth-round stoppage revealed yet another layer of this phenomenal talent.
Now, with the Pantoja rematch on the horizon, less doubt and more confidence have positioned him as a betting favourite in what could be the statement win to legitimise his title reign.
Pantoja Deserves Just as Much Praise
While it’s easy to sit and praise the champ, the former champ, who lost his title unjustly, is a 30-6 fight veteran who has nearly a decade of time spent competing for the UFC behind a 14-4 promotional record.
The freak injury Pantoja suffered versus Van in the first scrap, which didn’t just strip him of the belt, but it also ended an incredible run of eight straight wins and four title defences. As a result, we still have the same questions we had before the initial clash, including how much the Brazilian intends to grapple.
UFC 331 Van vs. Pantoja 2 Betting Picks
Joshua Van Moneyline
We don’t own any valid tape to help us with the rematch, but we do have Van going against a wrestler in Taira. And, as previously mentioned, he held his own pretty damn well in the takedown defence area. Not to mention, the striking numbers of the champ, including that Taira fight, where the total significant strikes finished 131 to 51, are pretty insane.
Now, can we compare Pantoja’s striking to Taira’s? Probably not… but is he really a better wrestler than the Japanese star? It’s unlikely.
So, with Van’s now-proven takedown defence, a level of striking that puts him among the highest significant-striking numbers in all men’s divisions, and a 58% defensive striking rate, I actually struggle to see Pantoja keeping up.
We have a 36-year-old coming off an injury going against one of the cleanest, highest-volume strikers the UFC has to offer, who’ll ultimately feel unbeatable without constant takedowns, and the latter is not something we should be confident in after that Taira performance.
Van retains this weekend, and I have a funny feeling that he’ll do it convincingly. Better still, his money line price is just -147! Book it.
Joshua Van to Win at 1.68 [-147]
Over 2.5 Rounds
So, we’ve concluded that Van is a worthy favorite, but how does he finish the fight? A knockout is possible because those hands are dangerous, but we mustn’t overlook Pantoja’s incredible chin, which has survived 18 UFC bouts without getting put out.
With Pantoja’s potential early grappling threat, I wouldn’t be surprised if he lands a takedown or two. I don’t believe he can achieve this for 25 minutes, but long enough to help drain the clock, in unison with his noteworthy durability, to extend this fight beyond 2 ½ rounds.
Over 2 ½ Rounds at 1.59 [-169]
UFC 331 Event Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 10:30 p.m. CET
- Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- How to Watch: UFC Fight Pass, Paramount+ & Viaplay
- Main Event Bout: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
- Co-Main Event Bout: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
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