UFC 331 delivered championship drama, violent knockouts and one of the night’s biggest upsets in Los Angeles. Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja again in their flyweight championship rematch and remained on top of the division.The UFC 331 results also produced major developments outside the main event. Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy, while Sean Sharaf stunned Gable Steveson in only 12 seconds. Patricio Pitbull also added another memorable first-round finish.
Joshua Van Beats Alexandre Pantoja Again
Joshua Van entered UFC 331 with a 17-2 professional record and the UFC flyweight championship around his waist. The 24-year-old faced Pantoja for the second time after their unusual first meeting at UFC 323.
Van walked away from Los Angeles with another victory over the former champion. This time, the result gave Van another major win against the man who ruled the division before him. It also allowed Van to continue his run as the leading name at 125 pounds.
Van Finally Gets a Proper Fight With Pantoja
Their first meeting never provided a complete answer. Pantoja suffered a serious elbow injury only 26 seconds into their UFC 323 championship fight. Van received the victory and became champion, but the unusual finish immediately created demand for a rematch.
Van strengthened his position before UFC 331 by stopping Tatsuro Taira in Round 5 at UFC 328. Pantoja entered the rematch with a 30-6 record after previously making four successful UFC title defenses. Their second meeting therefore carried far more significance than a normal championship defense.
Arman Tsarukyan Knocks Out Mauricio Ruffy
Arman Tsarukyan produced one of his most impressive UFC finishes in the co-main event. Tsarukyan entered at 23-3 before knocking out Mauricio Ruffy with only four seconds remaining in Round 1.
Ruffy initially defended Tsarukyan’s wrestling attempts and prevented him from controlling the fight on the canvas. Tsarukyan adjusted and attacked with his striking instead. Two devastating elbows ended the contest at 4:56 of Round 1.
Tsarukyan Makes His Lightweight Title Case Stronger
The victory improved Tsarukyan’s professional record to 24-3 and extended his winning streak to six. More importantly, he stopped a dangerous striker without depending on his wrestling.
Tsarukyan immediately pushed for a lightweight title opportunity following the victory. His position becomes particularly interesting because UFC title opportunities involve more than rankings alone. Our breakdown of how UFC matchmaking works explains the other factors behind those decisions.
Sean Sharaf Shocks Gable Steveson in 12 Seconds
Few expected Sean Sharaf to become one of UFC 331’s biggest stories. Sharaf entered with a 4-2 professional record against undefeated Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson.
Sharaf needed only 12 seconds to change the conversation. He caught Steveson immediately and scored a stunning first-round knockout. Sharaf improved to 5-2, while Steveson suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career.
Gable Steveson’s Perfect Record Disappears
Steveson entered UFC 331 at 4-0 with four first-round knockouts. His wrestling credentials made his MMA development particularly interesting. He won Olympic freestyle wrestling gold and twice captured the NCAA Division I heavyweight championship.
None of those accomplishments could save him after Sharaf connected early. The defeat dropped Steveson to 4-1 and created the first major obstacle of his young MMA career. Heavyweight prospects can develop quickly, but the division also punishes defensive mistakes more severely than most.
Patricio Pitbull Stops Dooho Choi in Round 1
Patricio Pitbull also delivered a statement on the UFC 331 main card. The former Bellator champion entered with a 37-9 professional record and faced fan favorite Dooho Choi.
Pitbull landed a powerful right hand that badly hurt Choi. He followed with additional strikes before the referee stopped the contest at 3:28 of Round 1. The result gave Pitbull his first knockout victory inside the UFC Octagon.
Pitbull Wants Jean Silva Next
Pitbull did not waste much time discussing his next target. Following the knockout, he called for a fight against fellow Brazilian featherweight Jean Silva.
The victory should help Pitbull move forward after a mixed beginning to his UFC career. His experience and finishing ability remain major weapons at featherweight. The next matchmaking decision will show how quickly UFC wants to move the veteran toward higher-ranked competition.
Alonzo Menifield Wins Despite Horrific Thumb Injury
Alonzo Menifield’s victory over Iwo Baraniewski produced another memorable UFC 331 moment. Menifield suffered a badly damaged thumb during the first round but continued fighting.
He eventually earned a split decision after three difficult rounds. Two judges scored the contest 29-28 for Menifield, while the third scored it 29-28 for Baraniewski. The result also handed Baraniewski his first professional MMA defeat.
Marlon Vera Returns With a Needed Finish
Marlon Vera entered UFC 331 needing a positive result against Charles Jourdain. The Ecuadorian bantamweight eventually found the finish in Round 3.
Vera’s victory came by technical knockout and provided an important result after a difficult period in his career. Jourdain presented problems during the fight, but Vera remained dangerous long enough to create the decisive opening.
Robelis Despaigne Edges Tai Tuivasa
Heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Robelis Despaigne went the full distance in one of the more unusual results on the preliminary card. Despaigne eventually secured the victory by split decision.
The result showed another side of Despaigne’s game. He built his reputation around frightening knockout power and extremely quick finishes. Going three rounds against an experienced UFC heavyweight gave him a different type of test.
UFC 331 Early Prelims Produced Three Different Finishes
Joanderson Brito started the event with a first-round knockout victory over Giga Chikadze. Casey O’Neill followed with a first-round armbar submission against Eduarda Moura.
Edmen Shahbazyan then defeated Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision. Ryan Gandra later added another first-round knockout against Ozzy Diaz. Michael Aswell Jr. defeated Joo Sang Yoo by split decision during the preliminary card.
UFC 331 Full Results
Main Card
Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja — UFC Flyweight Championship
Arman Tsarukyan def. Mauricio Ruffy — KO, Round 1, 4:56
Patricio Pitbull def. Dooho Choi — KO/TKO, Round 1, 3:28
Sean Sharaf def. Gable Steveson — KO, Round 1, 0:12
Alonzo Menifield def. Iwo Baraniewski — Split Decision
Preliminary Card
Marlon Vera def. Charles Jourdain — TKO, Round 3
Robelis Despaigne def. Tai Tuivasa — Split Decision
Michael Aswell Jr. def. Joo Sang Yoo — Split Decision
Ryan Gandra def. Ozzy Diaz — KO, Round 1
Early Prelims
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brunno Ferreira — Unanimous Decision
Casey O’Neill def. Eduarda Moura — Submission, Armbar, Round 1
Joanderson Brito def. Giga Chikadze — KO, Round 1
Three Biggest Stories From UFC 331
Van leaving Los Angeles with another victory over Pantoja gives the flyweight division its clearest storyline. Their first fight ended because of Pantoja’s injury, making the rematch especially important for both fighters.
Tsarukyan and Sharaf produced the other two major developments. Tsarukyan strengthened his lightweight championship argument, while Sharaf destroyed Steveson’s unbeaten record in only 12 seconds.
UFC 331 Delivered Several Career-Changing Results
Tsarukyan may have moved closer to a championship opportunity. Sharaf transformed his UFC position with one punch sequence. Pitbull also showed that his knockout power remains dangerous against UFC featherweights.
The losers now face different questions. Ruffy must rebuild his lightweight momentum, while Steveson faces his first MMA setback. Baraniewski also lost his unbeaten professional record after a close decision.
Final Thoughts
The UFC 331 results gave Los Angeles much more than a flyweight championship rematch. Joshua Van left with another victory over Alexandre Pantoja, but several fighters underneath him produced equally important moments.
Tsarukyan’s late first-round knockout could reshape the lightweight title picture. Sharaf’s 12-second upset changed the direction of Steveson’s rapid rise. Pitbull also reminded the featherweight division that his finishing power remains dangerous. UFC 331 ultimately delivered major consequences across several divisions.
FAQs
Who won the UFC 331 main event?
Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja in their flyweight championship rematch. The victory kept Van at the top of the UFC flyweight division.
Who won the UFC 331 co-main event?
Arman Tsarukyan defeated Mauricio Ruffy by knockout. The finish came at 4:56 of the first round.
What happened to Gable Steveson at UFC 331?
Sean Sharaf knocked out Gable Steveson only 12 seconds into Round 1. It marked the first professional MMA defeat of Steveson’s career.
Who did Patricio Pitbull beat at UFC 331?
Patricio Pitbull defeated Dooho Choi by first-round knockout. The stoppage came at 3:28 and marked Pitbull’s first UFC knockout victory.
Where did UFC 331 take place?
UFC 331 took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on September 19, 2026. The card featured 12 fights and a UFC flyweight championship main event.
