UFC 331 brings the promotion back to Los Angeles on Saturday, September 19, with a flyweight championship rematch headlining the event. Joshua Van will defend his title against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a second meeting that could settle unfinished business from their first encounter.The co-main event also carries major lightweight implications as Arman Tsarukyan returns against Mauricio Ruffy. With the original Renato Moicano vs Brian Ortega fight removed because of Ortega’s injury, UFC 331 now features 12 fights across the early prelims, prelims and main card.
UFC 331 Main Event: Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja will meet again with the UFC flyweight championship on the line.Their first meeting at UFC 323 ended after only 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered an elbow injury. The result handed Van the championship, but the unusual ending left plenty of questions surrounding the new champion’s reign.Van has since added another important victory to his resume. He defeated Tatsuro Taira by fifth-round TKO at UFC 328, giving him a successful first title defense and another opportunity to prove that he belongs at the top of the division.
Pantoja now gets the chance to reclaim the belt he held for more than two years. Before losing the title, the Brazilian had defended it four times against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France.The rematch therefore carries more significance than a normal title fight. Van can establish his championship reign with another victory, while Pantoja can become a UFC flyweight champion again.
Arman Tsarukyan Returns Against Mauricio Ruffy
Arman Tsarukyan’s return is another major storyline heading into UFC 331.The No. 2-ranked lightweight has not fought since submitting Dan Hooker in November 2025. Since then, Tsarukyan has remained active outside the UFC while competing regularly in wrestling.
He now returns to the Octagon against Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round co-main event. Tsarukyan enters the matchup riding a five-fight winning streak that includes victories over Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush and Hooker.Ruffy presents a very different challenge. The Brazilian has built his reputation around explosive striking and recently scored a major knockout win over Michael Chandler at UFC Freedom 250.
That makes the matchup particularly interesting because Tsarukyan’s wrestling and grappling will be tested against one of the UFC’s more dangerous young strikers.The winner could move directly into the lightweight title conversation. Fans following the division can also check the latest UFC lightweight rankings for a closer look at the contenders surrounding the championship picture.
Patricio Pitbull Returns Against Dooho Choi
Patricio Pitbull will also look to make an impact at UFC 331 when he faces Dooho Choi.
Pitbull entered the UFC with enormous expectations after becoming one of Bellator’s most accomplished champions. His UFC run, however, has not gone according to plan so far.
Choi provides another difficult test. The South Korean veteran has rebuilt momentum and enters the matchup with a three-fight winning streak.
The fight could become an important opportunity for both men. Pitbull needs a strong performance to establish himself in the UFC, while Choi can use a victory over a former Bellator champion to make a bigger statement at featherweight.
UFC 331 Card Changed After Brian Ortega Withdrawal
UFC 331 originally featured Renato Moicano vs Brian Ortega, but that fight was removed from the event after Ortega suffered an eye injury during training.
Ortega revealed that the injury required stitches and forced him to withdraw just days before the event. He had been scheduled to make his lightweight debut against Moicano in front of his hometown crowd in Los Angeles.
The withdrawal also changed Moicano’s schedule. He will now headline a UFC Fight Night event against Tom Nolan on October 31 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.As a result, Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf has moved onto the UFC 331 main card. The heavyweight matchup now opens the six-fight main card.
UFC 331 Full Fight Card
Main Card
Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja — UFC Flyweight Title Bout
Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy — Lightweight
Patricio Pitbull vs Dooho Choi — Featherweight
Alonzo Menifield vs Iwo Baraniewski — Light Heavyweight
Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf — Heavyweight
Prelims
Marlon Vera vs Charles Jourdain — Bantamweight
Tai Tuivasa vs Robelis Despaigne — Heavyweight
Michael Aswell Jr. vs JooSang Yoo — Featherweight
Early Prelims
Ryan Gandra vs Ozzy Diaz — Middleweight
Edmen Shahbazyan vs Brunno Ferreira — Middleweight
Casey O’Neill vs Eduarda Moura — Women’s Flyweight
Giga Chikadze vs Joanderson Brito — Featherweight
UFC 331 Start Time and How to Watch
UFC 331 takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 19.The early prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, followed by the prelims at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The main card starts at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.For viewers in Pakistan, the main card begins at 6 a.m. PKT on Sunday, September 20. The prelims start at 4 a.m. PKT, while the early prelims begin at 2 a.m. PKT.
In the United States, the entire event will stream on Paramount+, with the early prelims also available through UFC Fight Pass.For readers tracking previous UFC events, Sportsgotec also has its UFC 330 fight results coverage available.
What to Watch at UFC 331
The main attraction is clearly the flyweight title rematch, but Tsarukyan vs Ruffy could have an equally important impact on the next lightweight title picture.Van has the opportunity to remove any remaining doubt created by the unusual ending of the first Pantoja fight. Pantoja, meanwhile, is attempting to regain the championship and begin another run at 125 pounds.
Tsarukyan faces a different kind of pressure. After spending months away from the UFC, he needs to immediately show that his place near the top of the lightweight division remains justified.Ruffy has the chance to change that picture completely. A victory over one of the division’s most highly regarded contenders would give the Brazilian one of the biggest wins of his career.
Final Thoughts
UFC 331 has changed considerably during fight week, but the card still carries major implications across several divisions. Van vs Pantoja 2 provides the championship stakes, while Tsarukyan vs Ruffy could reshape the lightweight contender picture.The removal of Ortega vs Moicano has also opened the door for Steveson vs Sharaf to receive a bigger platform. With 12 fights now scheduled, the Los Angeles event still has several storylines worth following from the opening bout through the flyweight title rematch.
