Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch at UFC 331, retaining his title, according to Bleacher Report. The event took place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with results reported the following day.
Bleacher Report published the judges' scorecards, prize money details, statistics and highlights from the bout. ESPN described the result as a dominant performance by Van over Pantoja in the rematch. The two fighters had met before, making this a second meeting with the belt on the line.
The card also produced several other notable results. Yahoo Sports framed the night around what it called shocks and surprises, naming Van alongside Arman Tsarukyan and Sean Sharaf as fighters who led the way. CBS Sports had promoted the event in advance, tying a DraftKings offer to the Van vs. Pantoja 2 headliner scheduled for Saturday, September 19.
Pay was another talking point after the event. MMA Junkie reported on UFC 331 salaries and noted that Van's disclosed payout, as champion, was topped by one other fighter on the card. The outlet did not identify that fighter in the headline.
Bleacher Report's coverage also included the official scorecards and statistical breakdown of the main event, alongside event highlights.
What to watch next: whether a third meeting between Van and Pantoja is discussed, and how the UFC 331 results reshape the division's rankings.