UFC 331 Lands in Los Angeles with Championship Rematch and Key Contender Bout
The UFC returns to Los Angeles for UFC 331, featuring a flyweight title rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja, and a lightweight eliminator bout.
UFC 331 is set to take place in Los Angeles this Saturday, featuring a 12-bout card that includes a championship rematch and a potential title eliminator.
The event, which was reduced from 13 fights due to an injury to Brian Ortega, will see flyweight champion Joshua Van defend his title against Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch of their December bout. That previous encounter ended in a TKO victory for Van after just 26 seconds due to an injury to Pantoja.
Since their last meeting, Van has continued his ascent, most recently defeating Tatsuro Taira by fifth-round TKO. Pantoja, however, is looking to regain the title he held before his injury, which kept him sidelined for nearly a year. Pantoja reportedly opted for physical therapy over surgery for his elbow injury.
Van, the current champion, is noted for his boxing skills and power in the flyweight division. Pantoja, at 36, is considered by some to be past the typical prime for flyweight success. The prediction favors Van to win, potentially in the later rounds or by decision, with an expectation that the fight will go over 2.5 rounds.
Lightweight Title Eliminator
Another significant bout on the card is the lightweight contest between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy. This fight is scheduled for five rounds, not the standard three, given its status as a title eliminator.
Tsarukyan, described as an excellent grappler and a prominent UFC star, faces Ruffy, who is seen as a promising striker but has shown vulnerability in defending takedowns. Ruffy's past performance against Benoit Saint Denis highlighted these concerns, and his subsequent matchups have been against strikers.
The analysis suggests Tsarukyan is likely to secure a win by submission, a method he employed in his last fight against Dan Hooker. Bets are also advised on the number of takedowns exceeding 3.5.
Undercard Highlights
The undercard also features several other notable matchups, including Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi, Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf, and Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski. Other fights include Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain, Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne, Michael Aswell Jr. vs. JooSang Yoo, Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz, Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira, Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura, and Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito.
The UFC 331 card begins at 5 p.m. ET on Paramount+, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET.