UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 takes place on Saturday, 19 September 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The night’s headline attraction is a rematch for the UFC Flyweight Championship between reigning champion Joshua Van and former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja, with the entire main card streaming live on Paramount+.
The Main Event: Van vs. Pantoja 2
Joshua Van claimed the flyweight belt from Alexandre Pantoja in their first meeting, ending the Brazilian’s second reign as champion. Pantoja, who has now held and lost the title twice, enters this rematch with the hunger of a former champion determined to reclaim what he considers his. Van has proven himself a cerebral and technically precise fighter, mixing sharp wrestling with patient striking to control opponents over five rounds. Pantoja, meanwhile, relies on relentless forward pressure, durable grappling and a high submission threat rate that has troubled every opponent he has faced at this level. Their first meeting was competitive throughout, and the flyweight division watches this rematch as one of the most significant rematches the division has produced in years.
Co-Main Event and Main Card
The Crypto.com Arena card is stacked beyond the headline bout. Lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy clash in a five-round contest that could determine the next title challenger at 155 pounds. Tsarukyan, the Armenian ranked among the division’s elite, faces Ruffy, the Brazilian who has impressed with a run of finishes. The main card also features a lightweight rematch between Renato Moicano and Brian Ortega, featherweights Patricio Pitbull and Doo Ho Choi in a fan-friendly striker’s duel, and a bantamweight contest between Charles Jourdain and Marlon Vera.
Undercard Highlights
The preliminary card, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, includes several notable bouts. Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson continues his MMA career in the heavyweight division, facing Sean Sharaf. Edmen Shahbazyan returns to the middleweight division against Brunno Ferreira, while veterans Tai Tuivasa and Robelis Despaigne meet in a heavyweight clash sure to produce fireworks. The early preliminary card begins at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Crypto.com Arena is one of the most recognisable sporting venues in North America. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the arena hosts the NBA’s LA Lakers and LA Clippers and has held major boxing, MMA and entertainment events throughout its history. A UFC pay-per-view at Crypto.com Arena draws an electric atmosphere from the entertainment capital’s sports crowd.
How to Watch
UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States. The early preliminary card begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, 19 September 2026, with the preliminary card following at 7:00 p.m. ET and the five-fight main card at 9:00 p.m. ET. International broadcast arrangements vary by territory.
Tickets
Tickets for UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena are available through the official UFC website and authorised resellers. As a pay-per-view card held at a major arena in Los Angeles, demand is high. Fans are advised to purchase through verified channels only.
Storylines to Watch
The Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy lightweight bout carries title implications at 155 pounds, where the division has been searching for its next clear contender. The Moicano and Ortega rematch revisits a rivalry that ended controversially the first time. At heavyweight, Steveson’s continuing MMA development remains one of combat sport’s most watched experiments, with the decorated wrestler working to translate elite grappling credentials into octagon success. The undercard’s mixture of veterans and rising prospects makes this one of the more complete pay-per-view offerings of the autumn schedule.
Betting and Predictions
Van enters the rematch as a slight favourite given his title-winning performance in their first encounter. Pantoja, however, has shown throughout his career that he improves between fights and has the experience of multiple title reigns to draw on. The co-main event is harder to call, with Tsarukyan’s all-round game against Ruffy’s finishing instinct making for an intriguing matchup on paper.