Alexandre Pantoja Fully Healed for Joshua Van Rematch at UFC 331

Former UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is set to challenge Joshua Van for the flyweight title in a rematch at UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. The Brazilian contender claims he has fully recovered from the arm injury that cut their first championship encounter short, crediting his mindset throughout the rehabilitation process.

The pair initially collided in December of last year, with Pantoja entering the matchup as a massive favorite. However, the fight reached an abrupt and anticlimactic end when Pantoja suffered an elbow injury while bracing for a fall after Van caught his head-kick. Despite the setback, "The Cannibal" was determined to get back to work almost immediately.

"The first 20 minutes after my injury are the worst," Pantoja said in a recent interview, per Sherdog. "But after that I realized what opportunity I have. I know in the second after that I need to recover.

Two days after my injury, after my fight, I’m back to the gym. I’m starting to make a physiotherapy; I start to lift it with just one arm and this gives me a lot of motivation."

Following their first bout, Van solidified his status as champion by defending the belt in emphatic fashion against Tatsuro Taira. Pantoja acknowledged Van's reign, adding that he liked seeing Van secure a title defense before their rematch because "this makes it more real."