Joshua Van successfully defended his UFC flyweight championship at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, delivering a decisive victory over former champion Alexandre Pantoja in their highly anticipated rematch.
The 24-year-old fighter, who made his promotional debut in 2023, faced a stern test from the 36-year-old Brazilian. The bout served as redemption for Van, who originally captured the belt in December 2025 when Pantoja suffered an accidental elbow dislocation just 26 seconds into their first encounter.
“A lot of people said that was an accidental win, well, doubt me now,” Van stated after the fight, extending his professional mixed martial arts record to 18 wins and two losses.
Van, the first UFC champion born in the 2000s, moved to the United States at age 12. While he had previously defended the title against Tatsuro Taira in May, this performance solidified his standing as the division’s top contender.
The action was competitive throughout the five rounds. Pantoja initiated the opening frame with takedowns and heavy ground-and-pound, but Van answered with precise slicing elbows. In the second round, Van utilized left-handed jabs to control the distance, eventually rocking Pantoja with fluid combinations in the third.
Pantoja regained control in the fourth by taking Van to the mat, though he failed to secure a submission. Van dominated the final round, stalking his opponent and dropping him with an overhand right, ultimately winning on the judges’ scorecards.
In other action on the card, Scottish fighter Casey O’Neill secured a victory over Eduarda Moura via armbar submission.
Is he really the first UFC champ born in the 2000s? Seems wild that we’re already there.
Finally, Van proved the first win wasn’t a fluke. That overhand right in round five was huge.