Joshua Van Retains Flyweight Title in Dominant Rematch Over Pantoja

Joshua Van successfully defended his UFC flyweight championship with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 on September 19, 2026, in Los Angeles. The five-round main event saw Van, 24, control the striking exchanges with superior hand speed and boxing, while effectively defending against Pantoja's takedown attempts. Judges awarded Van the fight with scores of 49–46, 49–46, and 50–45, marking his second consecutive title defense.

The rematch carried particular significance given the circumstances of their first meeting in December 2025, when Pantoja suffered an accidental elbow dislocation just 26 seconds into the fight. After that victory, some questioned the legitimacy of Van's championship claim. Post-fight, Van addressed this directly: "A lot of people said that was an accidental win, well, doubt me now." He praised Pantoja's toughness and durability, particularly after the 36-year-old Brazilian escaped a submission attempt in the final round that Van believed would secure the finish. Van landed 140 significant head strikes compared to Pantoja's 99, demonstrating clear technical superiority across the distance.

The fight itself was contested throughout all five rounds, with Pantoja threatening early through takedowns and ground control. Van reversed positions effectively and used superior footwork and hand speed to dictate exchanges on the feet. In the fifth round, Van scored a knockdown with an overhand right but could not finish despite continued pressure. Pantoja's resilience in defending the submission and surviving the late knockdown underscored the quality of both fighters.

Despite the decisive victory, oddsmakers have installed Manel Kape as a betting favorite (-160) over Van (+140) for a potential next title fight, implying approximately 61.5 percent odds for Kape to win the belt. Analysis suggests Kape has earned the opportunity after knocking out four consecutive ranked opponents and stepping aside to allow the rematch to proceed. Van improved his professional record to 18 wins and 2 losses, while Pantoja fell to 30 wins and 7 losses. At 24, Van remains the second-youngest champion in UFC history behind Jon Jones.