Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision in the UFC 331 main event, held on September 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and retained the UFC flyweight championship. The official scorecards were 49-46, 48-47 and 50-45, all for the champion.
What were the official scores for Van vs. Pantoja 2?
The UFC official scorecards page records three scores in favor of Joshua Van:
| Scorecard | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49-46 | Joshua Van |
| 2 | 48-47 | Joshua Van |
| 3 | 50-45 | Joshua Van |
Because all three judges scored the fight for Van, the official result was a unanimous decision. The margins differed significantly, but there was no disagreement over the official winner.
How did the rematch unfold over five rounds?
Pantoja started with success in the grappling exchanges. According to Reuters, the Brazilian secured a takedown in the first round and landed heavy punches and knees, while Van answered with an elbow. Between rounds, the champion's corner called for a more tactical approach.
In the second round, Van began working his left jab more consistently. In the third, he found a punching combination that rocked Pantoja. The fight remained competitive because the Brazilian was still able to bring the action to the ground and apply pressure in important stretches.
The fourth round was Pantoja's strongest period of control. The UFC's official coverage highlighted the Brazilian's top control, although he did not produce a submission or much damage from the position.
Van accelerated in the fifth round. The champion pressured Pantoja, landed an overhand right that dropped the Brazilian and finished the fight with a clear advantage. The UFC described that round as Van's biggest moment of the rematch. The bout received Fight of the Night honors.
What did the result settle in the flyweight division?
The central fact is straightforward: Joshua Van remains the UFC flyweight champion and recorded his second successful title defense. He had already defended the belt against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 in May 2026, winning by fifth-round stoppage.
The rematch also produced a complete sporting result between Van and Pantoja. Their first meeting at UFC 323 in December 2025 ended just 26 seconds after it began, when Pantoja suffered an accidental elbow dislocation. Van took the title on that occasion, but the injury ending left little time for an extended competitive comparison inside the Octagon.
At UFC 331, the two completed all 25 minutes of a championship bout and all three scorecards went to Van. With the victory, the champion improved his professional MMA record to 18 wins and 2 losses, according to Reuters.
Has the UFC named Van's next challenger?
In the official pages and reports reviewed immediately after UFC 331, there was no announcement of the next challenger for the flyweight title. Any opponent presented as already confirmed would therefore go beyond what had been verified as of September 20, 2026.
For now, the confirmed picture is that Van remains at the top of the division after two title defenses, while Pantoja leaves the rematch without regaining the belt. Van's next championship fight depends on a later UFC announcement.
