Joshua Van defends flyweight title over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331

UFC 331 looked like a great card on paper, and it absolutely delivered, as the event featured numerous exciting fights and vicious knockouts that brought the Los Angeles crowd to its feet.

It was a phenomenal fight card, so now let’s take a look at the biggest storylines that emerged.

Joshua Van Defends UFC Flyweight Title

In the main event of UFC 331, Joshua Van defended the UFC flyweight title for the second time when he won a unanimous decision over former champ Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch.

It was an absolutely incredible fight between the two best flyweights that went the full 25 minutes, but Van did far more damage during the contest to get his hand raised.

Now, Van will prepare for his next title defence, likely against knockout artist Manel Kape.

Time to Give Arman Tsarukyan His Title Shot

With a brutal KO win over Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event of UFC 331, lightweight Arman Tsarukyan stamped his path as the next title contender for UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, as going with anyone else for the next title shot would be crazy after this win.

Tsarukyan has now won six straight fights, and this one was his most impressive yet as he took care of business against the rising star Ruffy. Not only did he win the fight, but he beat him at his own game, as Tsarukyan knocked him out to prove he’s ready to fight for the belt at 155 lbs.

Step aside, Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett, because Tsarukyan has earned the next title shot.

Patricio Pitbull Finally Gets a Finish

For the first time in his UFC career, Patricio Pitbull earned a finish when he knocked out Dooho Choi in the first round to improve his record to 2-2 so far in his UFC career.

The 39-year-old Pitbull won for the first time by stoppage in the UFC when he finished Choi, and it’s the kind of big win that should earn Pitbull a top-10 ranked opponent for his next fight.

Massive Upset at Heavyweight

In what was the biggest upset in UFC history according to the betting odds, Sean Sharaf knocked out Gable Steveson in the first round in what was an absolute stunner of a KO.

Sharaf was a 10-to-1 underdog, but he came into the cage and showed zero respect for Steveson, storming across the cage and finishing him in just 12 seconds in an insane knockout.

While Sharaf is riding high after this win, Steveson now has to recover from taking one of the worst losses of all time in the UFC as he was brutally knocked out, which no one saw coming.

Underrated Alonzo Menifield Keeps Winning

In a light heavyweight contest that kicked off the main card, Alonzo Menifield won a close split decision over Iwo Baraniewski despite breaking his thumb in the very first round.

Despite the injury, Menifield managed to stay composed and earn a hard-fought win over the undefeated Baraniewski, who gassed out after a strong start to the fight.

Menifield was the betting underdog heading into the bout, and by picking up the victory, he has now won five fights in his UFC career as an underdog, showing just how underrated he is.

Canadian Charles Jourdain Loses

The lone Canadian on the card, bantamweight Charles Jourdain, suffered a third-round TKO loss to Marlon Vera to snap a three-fight win streak at 135 pounds.

Jourdain was favored to win the fight according to the betting odds, but Vera beat him from pillar to post before finishing the Beloeil, Que. native with a third-round stoppage.

We’ll have to see what’s next for Jourdain, but given how much damage he absorbed in this bout, he will likely take the rest of 2026 off before regrouping and coming back next year.

Ryan Gandra Calls Out Israel Adesanya

In a middleweight bout that took place during prelims, Ryan Gandra brutally knocked out Ozzy Diaz just 2:04 into the very first round.

Gandra improved to 3-0 in the UFC with three-straight first-round knockout wins, and the 31-year-old Brazilian should be in line for a significant step up in competition for his next bout.

To Gandra’s credit, he wasted no time in his post-fight interview calling out former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya for his next fight. It remains to be seen if he’ll get what he wants, but you have to give the man credit for wanting to fight someone in the top 15 next.

Casey O’Neill Scores Spectacular Submission

On the early preliminary card, UFC women’s flyweight fighter Casey O’Neill scored her most impressive win yet when she submitted Eduarda Moura with a helicopter armbar.

It was a phenomenal submission by the 28-year-old O’Neill, who is among the most underrated flyweights in the UFC. She is 7-2 overall in the UFC since entering the promotion in 2021, and she is currently on a three-fight win streak with her last two wins being finishes.

For her next fight, O’Neill called out top-ranked fighter Maycee Barber, and it’s very possible that the UFC will grant her wish and book her for what would be an intriguing flyweight bout.