UFC 331 Preview: Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2 — Full Card, Film Study, Odds, Countdown, Weigh-In & Press Conference Videos

UFC 331 Preview: Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2 — Full Card, Film Study, Odds, Countdown, Weigh-In & Press Conference Videos

By Real Combat Media MMA Editorial Staff

Los Angeles, California, (September 19th, 2026)–The UFC returns to Los Angeles proper for the first time since UFC 227 in August 2018, and it’s brought a stacked six-fight main card with it. Flyweight champion Joshua Van defends his title against the man he took it from on a fluke injury, Arman Tsarukyan gets a five-round platform to make his case as the lightweight division’s uncrowned king, an Olympic gold medalist looks to keep rolling through the heavyweight ranks, and the go-home week storylines have been as loud as anything that’s likely to happen in the cage. All 24 fighters made weight Friday. Below is the full breakdown of every main card fight, complete weigh-in results, and video from the Countdown special, the pre-fight press conference, and the ceremonial weigh-in.

Main Event: Joshua Van (c) vs Alexandre Pantoja — Flyweight Title (5 Rounds)

This rematch has felt unfinished since the moment it ended. Van won the belt at UFC 323 this past December when Pantoja tore up his arm breaking a takedown just 26 seconds into the fight, a finish that left the entire division wondering who the real best flyweight in the world actually is. Van has done everything possible since to answer that question on his own terms, following the win with a Fight of the Year-caliber fifth-round TKO of grappling ace Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 that erased most of the skepticism about his championship legitimacy. He’s unbeaten in seven straight, lands a blistering 8.43 significant strikes per minute, and at 24 is already the second-youngest champion in UFC history behind only Jon Jones. Pantoja, for his part, was pound-for-pound ranked and a near 3-to-1 favorite heading into the first meeting, riding four consecutive title defenses and an eight-fight win streak that included back-to-back submissions of Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France. He’s made no secret of feeling he never actually lost the belt in a real fight, and that chip on his shoulder has turned this into one of the most personal rematches of the year. If he wins, he becomes only the third fighter in UFC history to reclaim the flyweight title after losing it.

Keys to Victory: Van needs to use his volume and pace to keep Pantoja managing distance for 25 minutes, since a firefight favors the younger, fresher champion. Pantoja needs his wrestling and top control to win rounds on the mat and avoid the kind of extended standup exchanges that play into Van’s hands.

Odds: Van -136 to -130, Pantoja +102 to +114

Co-Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy — Lightweight (5 Rounds)

Dana White has declined to formally call this a No. 1 contender fight, but both men are treating it that way, and Tsarukyan has said a loss here would effectively end his championship aspirations. Unbeaten in five straight since a back injury derailed a scheduled UFC 311 title shot against Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan returns off a dominant win over Dan Hooker in Qatar and remains one of the most talented lightweights never to have fought for gold — a complete wrestler with power in his hands who has stayed sharp with monthly grappling exhibitions during the layoff. Ruffy has been the division’s most explosive striker through 2026, stopping Rafael Fiziev in February and battering Michael Chandler in June behind hand speed and unorthodox angles that make him live against anyone at 155. The swing question is whether he’s improved his takedown defense since the lone loss on his record, a mauling by Benoit Saint Denis who needed just three takedown attempts to find the finish.

Keys to Victory: Tsarukyan wants to get this to the mat early and often and let his wrestling wear Ruffy down over five rounds. Ruffy needs to keep this standing, use his reach and unorthodox angles to land the fight-changing shot, and prove his takedown defense has actually improved since the Saint Denis loss.

Odds: Tsarukyan -350 to -290, Ruffy +235 to +255

Patricio Pitbull vs Doo Ho Choi — Featherweight

A pairing of featherweight veterans with a combined two decades of experience. Pitbull, the winningest fighter in Bellator history and a former two-division champion there, has managed just one win in three UFC fights since arriving in 2025, including a decision loss to Aaron Pico last time out, and openly admits he hasn’t shown his real potential yet inside the Octagon. Choi, a South Korean fan favorite already responsible for a Fight of the Year classic against Cub Swanson back in 2016, spent four years on the sidelines dealing with injuries and mandatory military service before returning on a three-fight winning streak with every victory coming by knockout. He’s unranked heading in, but a win here puts a number next to his name by next week.

Keys to Victory: Pitbull wants to use his experience and guillotine threat to find an opening against a less tested opponent. Choi needs to keep his hands moving and his output high, the formula that’s carried his last three knockouts, and avoid letting Pitbull’s craft turn this into the kind of chess match veterans win late.

Odds: Choi -286 to -265, Pitbull +200 to +220

Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf — Heavyweight

This fight was promoted onto the main card after Brian Ortega withdrew from his rematch with Renato Moicano due to injury, and it’s since become the card’s most talked-about storyline for reasons that have nothing to do with fighting. Steveson, the 2020 Olympic wrestling gold medalist now training under Jon Jones, won his UFC debut over Elisha Ellison with a first-round finish that leaned on power rather than his elite wrestling pedigree. Sharaf, a Santa Ana native and Marine Corps veteran, has been stopped in both of his UFC appearances and is fighting to save his roster spot at home. At Thursday’s press conference, Sharaf escalated a public feud that had already been simmering online, calling Steveson a “rapist” and later “Loophole” in direct reference to a 2019 arrest in which Steveson, then a University of Minnesota wrestler, was investigated on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct; no charges were ever filed. “You can’t do that. It’s wrong,” Sharaf said, while also arguing the UFC has overlooked him for the kind of media attention Steveson receives. Steveson didn’t engage with the substance of the allegation, calling Sharaf a coward who was “already looking at the way out” and predicting a first-round finish.

Keys to Victory: Steveson wants to use his wrestling pedigree and power to get the fight to the mat or land a fight-ending shot early. Sharaf needs to survive the opening exchanges, lean on his boxing and body work, and make Steveson deal with adversity for the first time in his UFC career.

Odds: Steveson -2100 to -1800, Sharaf +800 to +1100

Iwo Baraniewski vs Alonzo Menifield — Light Heavyweight

A classic gatekeeper fight, with the veteran Menifield tasked with finding out whether the Polish prospect is ready for the division’s ranked contenders. Baraniewski has looked like the scariest finisher on the roster since graduating Dana White’s Contender Series, running his record to 9-0 with nine finishes, seven of them knockouts, and has yet to see the fourth minute of a professional fight. Menifield has gone 3-1 over his last four, including a May win over Zhang Mingyang in Macau, and remains capable of ending any fight with one clean shot despite an increasingly questionable chin.

Keys to Victory: Baraniewski wants to keep doing what’s worked in every fight so far — pressure, power, and a finish before the second round. Menifield needs to survive the opening storm, find his range, and land the one punch that’s ended so many of his own fights early.

Odds: Baraniewski -265 to -250, Menifield +185 to +205

Charles Jourdain vs Marlon Vera — Bantamweight

The card’s opener projects as pure action between two well-traveled strikers. Jourdain, riding a three-fight winning streak on his move up to bantamweight, is fighting with the kind of confidence that comes from finally settling into a weight class that fits him. Vera, a former title challenger, has more name value and more high-level experience but has looked human against elite competition in recent years. It’s a striking-heavy matchup that shouldn’t need the judges.

Keys to Victory: Jourdain wants to use volume and movement to keep this at his preferred distance and pace. Vera needs his power and championship-level composure to slow Jourdain’s rhythm and find the bigger shots.

Odds: Jourdain -238 to -205, Vera +170 to +185

Full Weigh-In Results

Main Card (Paramount+, 9 p.m. ET)
Joshua Van (125) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (125)
Arman Tsarukyan (156) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155)
Patricio Pitbull (145) vs. Doo Ho Choi (145)
Gable Steveson (240) vs. Sean Sharaf (241)
Iwo Baraniewski (206) vs. Alonzo Menifield (205.5)
Charles Jourdain (135) vs. Marlon Vera (136)

Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 p.m. ET)
Tai Tuivasa (264.5) vs. Robelis Despaigne (263)
Michael Aswell Jr. (146) vs. Joo Sang Yoo (145.5)
Ryan Gandra (186) vs. Ozzy Diaz (186)

Early Prelims (Paramount+, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Edmen Shahbazyan (185) vs. Brunno Ferreira (184.5)
Casey O’Neill (125) vs. Eduarda Moura (125.5)
Giga Chikadze (146) vs. Joanderson Brito (145.5)

Watch: Countdown to UFC 331

Watch: Pre-Fight Press Conference

Watch: Ceremonial Weigh-In

Odds are approximate ranges compiled from multiple sportsbooks ahead of fight week and are subject to change. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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