Joshua Van Defeats Alexandre Pantoja via Decision in UFC 331 Rematch

Joshua Van solidified his status as the undisputed UFC flyweight champion, defeating former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The judges scored the competitive five-round bout 49-46, 49-47, and 50-45 in favor of Van, with the contest also taking home Fight of the Night honors.

The victory decisively addressed lingering questions from their first meeting last year, which ended in anticlimactic fashion when an arm injury to Pantoja forced a referee stoppage early in the first round to crown Van champion. Although Van went on to defend his 125-pound strap against Tatsuro Taira, skepticism remained about his position at the top of the division while Pantoja rehabilitated his injury.

At UFC 331, Van silenced critics by dealing significant damage throughout the contest while successfully defending and escaping the majority of Pantoja's grappling entanglements. Van even locked in a submission attempt of his own, though the former champion managed to break free.

"A lot of people say that was an accident win the first time," Van said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. "I did my submission, but I don't know how the hell he got out of that. I usually, with that move, I get everybody in the gym, but I don't know how the hell he got out of that." Following the bout, Van voiced full respect for his Brazilian rival.