Joshua Van retains UFC flyweight title with win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331

Joshua Van retained his flyweight title by defeating Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on 20 September 2026. The bout was a rematch of their December 2025 meeting that ended early when Pantoja suffered an accidental elbow dislocation 26 seconds into the fight.

Van, a 24-year-old from Myanmar who moved to the United States at age 12, made his UFC debut in 2023 and is the first UFC champion born in the 2000s. He defended the belt against Tatsuro Taira in May before facing Pantoja again at UFC 331.

"A lot of people said that was an accidental win, well, doubt me now," Van said after the fight, having extended his professional MMA record to 18 wins and two losses. The comment followed a performance that settled questions about his previous victory over Pantoja.

Pantoja took Van down in the first round and followed with heavy punches and knees in a fiery exchange, during which Van landed a slicing elbow in response. Van then used left-handed jabs to good effect in the second round and hurt Pantoja with a fluid combination of punches in the third.

Pantoja controlled the fourth as he secured a takedown but was unable to find a submission. In the final round Van stalked Pantoja and knocked him down with an overhand right, a sequence that contributed to the judges awarding the fight to Van.

Scottish fighter Casey O'Neill also recorded a victory on the card, beating Eduarda Moura by armbar submission.

Van can now claim to be the best in the division after soundly beating 36-year-old Pantoja again.