LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: (L-R) Joshua Van of Myanmar punches Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil within the UFC flyweight championship battle in the course of the UFC 331 occasion at Crypto.com Area on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
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Joshua Van simply delivered probably the greatest performances in latest UFC flyweight historical past. After getting his UFC flyweight title in less-than-glorious vogue in 2025 after Alexandre Pantoja injured his elbow inside 26 seconds of the primary battle, Van left little question on Saturday night time.
Within the UFC 331 fundamental occasion, Van dealt with Pantoja’s relentless grappling and picked him aside within the stand-up exchanges. Van was up on all three scorecards within the closing spherical, however the champion defended his title in dominant vogue. Van didn’t get the stoppage, however he did win all 5 rounds on card and 4 on the opposite two en path to a unanimous-decision victory.
Pantoja introduced every thing he had in his toolbox in an try to wrestle his title again from Van, however the champion was prepared for every thing that got here his means. It was an important battle and a fair higher efficiency from Van.
The principle occasion battle received the Combat of the Night time bonus.
Arman Tsarukyan defeats Mauricio Ruffy by way of First-Spherical TKO
Tsarukyan shined vibrant within the co-main occasion. With a title shot at 155 kilos possible on the road, Tsarukyan scored a highlight-reel KO victory over Mauricio Ruffy. Two nasty elbows knocked Ruffy unconscious.
There’s discuss of Justin Gaethje’s first protection being a rematch towards Ilia Topuria. Nobody will argue if that’s the name, however likewise, we shouldn’t hear any complaints if Tsarukyan will get the nod after this win.Tsarukyan took dwelling one of many $100,000 Efficiency of the Night time bonuses.
Here’s a take a look at the entire outcomes and bonus winners from UFC 331.
| Card | Weight Class | Matchup | Winner | Technique/Spherical | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Important | Flyweight title | Joshua Van (c) vs. Alexandre Pantoja | Van | Unanimous Resolution – 50-45, 49-46×2 | FOTN – $100K to every fighter |
| Important | Light-weight, 5 rounds | Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy | Tsarukyan | KO – Spherical 1 | POTN – $100K |
| Important | Featherweight | Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi | Pitbull | TKO – Spherical 1 | $25K End Bonus |
| Important | Heavyweight | Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf | Sharaf | KO – Spherical 1 | $100K Correct Chaos and Particular |
| Important | Gentle heavyweight | Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski | Menifield | Break up Resolution – 29-28×2, 28-29 | |
| Prelims | Bantamweight | Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain | Vera | TKO – Spherical 3 | $25K End Bonus |
| Prelims | Heavyweight | Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne | Despaigne | Break up Resolution – 29-28×2, 28-29 | |
| Prelims | Featherweight | Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joo Sang Yoo | Aswell | Break up Resolution – 29-28×2, 28-29 | |
| Prelims | Middleweight | Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz | Gandra | TKO – Spherical 1 | $25K End Bonus |
| Early prelims | Middleweight | Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira | Shahbazyan | Unanimous Resolution – 29-28×2, 30-27 | |
| Early prelims | Girls’s flyweight | Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura | O’Neill | Submission – Spherical 1 | POTN – $100K |
| Early prelims | Featherweight | Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito | Brito | TKO – Spherical 1 | $25K End Bonus |
Other than the primary and co-main occasion outcomes, arguably essentially the most memorable end got here from Sean Sharaf. The heavyweight pulled off the most important upset in UFC historical past when he shockingly knocked out Gable Steveson within the first spherical. It was the third-fastest KO in UFC heavyweight historical past. Have a look.
Sharaf earned the Correct Bonus and particular extra bonus from Dana White bringing his whole bonus cash to $100,000. The opposite efficiency of the night time bonus landed with Casey O’Neill. The ladies’s flyweight contender pulled off one of many slickest submission wins of the yr as she arm barred Eduarda Mourda in the course of the prelims.
Check out the arm bar that earned O’Neill $100,000.
The opposite fighters on the automobile who earned $25,000 bonuses for profitable by end had been Joanderson Brito, Ryan Gandra, Marlon Vera and Patricio Pitbull. Here’s a take a look at the entire finishes from UFC 331.
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