The octagon returns to Los Angeles for the primary time since January 2025 on Saturday with UFC 331 at Crypto.com Area. Your entire card streams on Paramount+.
A extremely anticipated flyweight title rematch headlines the cardboard. After Alexandre Pantoja (30-6 MMA, 14-4 UFC) noticed his historic reign finish with a 26-second damage TKO at UFC 323 in December, he’ll try and reclaim gold in opposition to standing champion Joshua Van (16-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC), who is raring to show the preliminary final result was no fluke.
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The cardboard additionally contains a slew of different notable names which have historical past on the road – each in a optimistic and damaging method. For extra on the numbers, test beneath for MMA Junkie’s UFC 331 pre-event information.
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja – UFC 331 on sale press convention faceoff
Joshua Van
Van is considered one of six undisputed UFC flyweight champions.
Van is the one UFC champion from Myanmar.
Van is the primary and solely UFC champion born within the 2000s.
Van, 24, grew to become the second-youngest first time champion in UFC historical past behind Jon Jones (23) together with his UFC 323 title win.
Van vs. Pantoja at UFC 323 marked the third time in UFC historical past {that a} title battle ended on account of an damage stoppage (excluding eye accidents). Patrick Cote’s knee damage vs. Anderson Silva and Anderson Silva’s leg damage vs. Chris Weidman had been different cases.
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Van’s seven-fight UFC successful streak at flyweight is the longest energetic streak within the division.
Van’s 4 knockout victories in UFC flyweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Manel Kape (six) and Joseph Benavidez (5).
Van lands 8.43 important strikes per minute in UFC competitors, the second-highest fee in firm historical past behind Carli Judice (8.7) and highest in flyweight historical past.
Van lands 57.4 of his important strike makes an attempt in UFC flyweight competitors, the very best fee in divisional historical past.
Van and Brandon Royval mixed for 419 important strikes landed at UFC 317, the all-time report for many in a three-fight UFC battle.
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Van and Royval mixed for 419 important strikes landed, essentially the most in UFC flyweight historical past and third-most all-time a single UFC battle.
Van landed 215 important strikes landed and Royval landed 204 important strikes landed, marking the primary time in UFC historical past the place two fighters have had 200 important strikes extra in a single battle.
Alexandre Pantoja
Pantoja is considered one of six undisputed UFC flyweight champions.
Pantoja is considered one of 5 fighters in UFC historical past to power a title change by break up resolution when he gained at UFC 290. Sean Strickland, Robbie Lawler, Henry Cejudo and Carla Esparza additionally achieved the feat.
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Pantoja is the one fighter in UFC historical past to lose a championship belt because of an damage stoppage.
Pantoja’s 5 victories in UFC flyweight championship fights are second-most in divisional historical past behind Demetrious Johnson (12).
Pantoja’s 14 victories in UFC flyweight competitors are most in divisional historical past.
Pantoja’s eight-fight UFC successful streak at flyweight, ended at UFC 323, is the second-longest streak in divisional historical past behind Johnson (13).
Pantoja’s eight stoppage victories in UFC flyweight competitors are most in divisional historical past.
Pantoja’s six submission victories in UFC flyweight competitors are most in divisional historical past.
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Pantoja’s six fight-night bonus for UFC flyweight bouts are tied for fourth-most in divisional historical past behind Johnson (9), Royval (seven) and Brandon Moreno (seven)
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Arman Tsarukyan’s (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) five-fight UFC successful streak at light-weight is tied for the second-longest energetic streak within the division behind Quillan Salkilld (six).
Tsarukyan is 10-1 in his previous 11 UFC appearances, courting again to his April 2019 loss to Makhachev.
Mauricio Ruffy (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has earned 13 of his 14 profession victories by stoppage. He is completed 9 of these wins in Spherical 1.
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**Ruffy has earned considered one of 16 knockouts in UFC historical past stemming from a spinning wheel kick. He achieved the feat at UFC 313.
Patricio Freire vs. Dooho Choi
Patricio Freire (37-9 MMA, 1-2 UFC) is 1-2 within the UFC after a embellished profession with Bellator the place he was a two-division and multi-time champion.
is considered one of three fighters in Bellator historical past to have three separate title reigns in a single weight class. Michael Chandler and Douglas Lima additionally achieved the feat.
Freire, a former light-weight champion, is the one fighter in Bellator historical past with 4 separate championship reigns.
Freire is considered one of two simultaneous two-division champions in Bellator historical past. Ryan Bader additionally achieved the feat.
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Freire is considered one of three fighters in Bellator historical past to win titles in two weight lessons. Bader and Joe Warren additionally achieved the feat.
Freire had essentially the most fights (30), victories (24) and stoppage victories (15) within the historical past of the now-defunct Bellator group.
Freire competed in essentially the most title fights (18) and earned essentially the most title battle victories (15) in Bellator historical past.
Dooho Choi (17-4-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) has earned 14 of his 16 profession victories by stoppage. He is completed 13 of these wins by knockout.
Choi’s six knockout victories in UFC featherweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Max Holloway (9) and Cub Swanson (eight).
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Choi’s 18-second knockout of Juan Puig at UFC Struggle Night time 57 stands because the second-fastest debut in UFC featherweight historical past behind Makwan Amirkhani’s eight-second win at UFC on FOX 14.
Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega
Renato Moicano (21-7-1 MMA, 13-7 UFC) is 8-3 since he moved as much as the UFC light-weight division in March 2020.
Moicano’s seven submission victories by rear-naked choke in UFC competitors are tied for third-most in firm historical past behind Demian Maia (9) and Michael Chiesa (eight).
Brian Ortega (16-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) strikes as much as the light-weight division after spending his earlier promotional tenure at featherweight.
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Ortega’s seven stoppage victories in UFC featherweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Holloway (11) and Swanson (eight).
Ortega’s 4 submission victories in UFC featherweight competitors are tied for second-most in divisional historical past behind Charles Oliveira (six).
Ortega is the one fighter in UFC historical past to earn 4 consecutive third-round stoppage victories.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
Alonzo Menifield (18-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) has recorded considered one of eight Von Flue submission finishes in UFC historical past. He achieved the feat at UFC 260.
Iwo Baraniewski (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned all 9 of his profession victories by first-round stoppage.
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Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
Gable Steveson (4-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is considered one of 5 Olympic gold medalist to battle within the UFC, together with Kayla Harrison, Henry Cejudo, Kevin Jackson and Mark Schultz. He earned gold in freestyle wrestling on the 2020 summer season Olympics.
Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain
Oct 18, 2025; Vancouver, BC, CANADA; Marlon Vera (crimson gloves) fights Aiemann Zahabi (blue gloves) throughout UFC Struggle Night time at Rogers Area. Obligatory Credit score: Simon Fearn-Imagn Photos
Marlon Vera (22-11-1 MMA, 16-10 UFC) competes in his twenty fourth UFC bantamweight bout, essentially the most appearances in divisional historical past.
Vera’s four-fight dropping skid is the longest of his profession. He hasn’t earned a victory since August 2023.
Vera’s complete battle time of 5:09:51 in UFC bantamweight competitors is essentially the most in divisional historical past.
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Vera’s 13 victories in UFC bantamweight competitors are tied with Merab Dvalishvili and T.J. Dillashaw for second-most in divisional historical past behind Aljamain Sterling (14).
Vera’s 10 stoppage victories in UFC bantamweight competitors are most in divisional historical past.
Vera’s six knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Dillashaw (seven) and Sean O’Malley (seven).
Vera’s two knockout victories stemming from head kicks in UFC bantamweight competitors are tied with Dillashaw for many in divisional historical past.
Vera’s 11 knockdowns landed in UFC bantamweight competitors are second-most in divisional historical past behind Montel Jackson (12).
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Vera is considered one of two fighters in UFC historical past to attain three knockdowns in back-to-back fights. Conor McGregor additionally achieved the feat.
Vera is considered one of six fighters in UFC historical past to have two performances with three or extra knockdowns landed. McGregor, Donald Cerrone, Anderson Silva, John Lineker and Israel Adesanya additionally achieved the feat.
Vera is considered one of 11 fighters in UFC historical past to earn a knockout stemming from a entrance kick. He achieved the feat at UFC 268. There have been 12 such finishes total, with Lyoto Machida being the one fighter to win twice with the method.
Vera’s -112 important strike differential (159 vs. 271) at UFC on ESPN 35 is the most important damaging differential for any winner in UFC historical past.
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Vera’s 4 submission victories in UFC bantamweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Urijah Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (six).
Charles Jourdain (18-8-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC) is 3-0 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in October 2024.
Jourdain has obtained a post-fight bonus for all three of his UFC bantamweight look.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 01: (L-R) Tallison Teixeira of Brazil and Tai Tuivasa of Australia sit exhausted after a heavyweight battle in the course of the UFC 325: Volkanovski v Lopes 2 at Qudos Financial institution Area on February 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Picture by Mark Kolbe Images/Getty Photos)
Tai Tuivasa’s (14-10 MMA, 8-10 UFC) seven-fight dropping skid is the longest of his profession. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2022.
Tuivasa’s seven-fight UFC dropping skid is tied with B.J. Penn for second-longest in firm historical past behind Tony Ferguson (eight).
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Tuivasa is 5-10 in his previous 15 fights after beginning his profession 10-0.
Tuivasa is considered one of two heavyweights in UFC historical past to earn a knockout stemming from a flying knee. Fabricio Werdum additionally achieved the feat.
Tuivasa is considered one of 4 heavyweights in UFC historical past to earn knockouts stemming from a knee and an elbow strike. Alistair Overeem, Cheick Kongo and Walt Harris additionally achieved the feat.
Robelis Despaigne (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) returns to the UFC for the primary time since October 2024. He went 1-0 in MMA between stints with the group.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira
**Brunno Ferreira (15-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is considered one of 10 fighters in UFC historical past to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning again elbow. He achieved the feat at UFC on ESPN 57.
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Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura
Casey O’Neill’s (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) 4 stoppage victories in UFC ladies’s flyweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Gillian Robertson (seven) and Valentina Shevchenko (5).
O’Neill’s three knockout victories in UFC ladies’s flyweight competitors are tied for second-most in divisional historical past behind Shevchenko (4).
O’Neill lands 7.89 important strikes per minute in UFC ladies’s flyweight competitors, the third-highest fee in divisional historical past behind Judice (8.7) and Wang Cong (8.0).
Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito
Giga Chikadze’s (15-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) three-fight dropping skid is the longest of his profession. He hasn’t earned a victory since August 2023.
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Joanderson Brito (19-5-1 MMA, 7-3 UFC) completes 66.7 % of his takedown makes an attempt in UFC featherweight competitors, the second-best fee in divisional historical past behind Diego Brandao (68 %).
UFC analysis analyst and stay statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Observe him on X @MJCflipdascript.
This text initially appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 331 pre-event information: Tai Tuivasa on cusp of Tony Ferguson dropping skid report
