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Why Santiago Ponzinibbio refuses to turn down UFC fights

Published

2 months ago

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Why Santiago Ponzinibbio refuses to turn down UFC fights

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Santiago
Ponzinibbio continues to fight for the love of the sport.

Ponzinibbio (30-9) is set to make his 21st UFC appearance against
Sam
Patterson (14-3) at
UFC Abu Dhabi. The 39-year-old MMA veteran recently explained
why he continues fighting.

Santiago Ponzinibbio explains his mindset before UFC Abu Dhabi
bout with Sam Patterson

Ponzinibbio claims he is financially set and can retire comfortably
if he wants to. However, the Argentine is forever a fighter at
heart and relishes the challenge of every new opponent. While
Ponzinibbio has the liberty to turn down offers at this stage in
his career, he says he accepts anyone the UFC pits against him.

“It's what I have in my blood,†Ponzinibbio said in a recent
interview. “It's my instinct. I love to fight. Thank God, I don't
need to fight more. If I want to stop, I can stop. It's not about
money; it's just about what I love. I love the competition, the
challenge. I can say, ‘No, I don't want this fight because there's
nothing to gain.' But no, I take every fight. I always take the
fight the company gives me.â€

Ponzinibbio has fought the who's who of the welterweight division
in his UFC career spanning more than a decade. However, he has
dropped three of his last four bouts and is coming off a stoppage
loss against Daniel
Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Patterson is coming off a decision loss
against Michael
Page that snapped a four-fight first-round finishing
streak.

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MMA

Jon Jones’ reaction says it all after Gable Steveson’s 12-second KO loss

Published

3 hours ago

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September 20, 2026

By

Jon Jones’ reaction says it all after Gable Steveson’s 12-second KO loss
Jon
Jones had a clear view of one of the biggest upsets in
Ultimate Fighting Championship history.

His protégé, Gable
Steveson, suffered the first loss of his professional mixed
martial arts career at UFC
331, with Sean Sharaf
recording a 12-second knockout at Crypto.com Arena in Los
Angeles.

Sean Sharaf hands Gable Steveson his first MMA loss in stunning
UFC 331 upset

Heavy betting favorite Steveson entered the matchup unbeaten at
4-0, while Sharaf was 0-2 in the UFC. The latter uncorked a left
hook early in the fight, putting the former to sleep. Steveson's
mentor, Jones, watched on and his reaction to the knockout is
circulating online.

The former two-division UFC champion seemingly said, “Oh, my God!â€
while looking at his fellow cornermen.

Steveson dismissed Sharaf as a threat in the lead-up to the fight,
relegating him to just a stepping stone towards his championship
aspirations. “The Smoke†even provoked the polarizing Olympian at
the pre-fight presser, bringing up past controversies that have
turned many against him.

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MMA

Pros react to Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331: "Horrible judging"

Published

11 hours ago

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September 20, 2026

By

Pros react to Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331: "Horrible judging"
Trending:

Tom Aspinall issues statement on rumored UFC departure after coach's recent claims

Tonight's UFC 331 event was headlined by a highly anticipated men's flyweight title fight rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.

Van and Pantoja had originally collided back at UFC 323 in December of last year, where ‘The Fearless' walked away with the promotion's coveted men's flyweight title after ‘The Cannibal' suffered a nasty arm injury the rendered him unable to continue (see that here).

Joshua Van (17-2 MMA) had since successfully defended the 125lbs strap on one occasion, earning a fifth-round TKO victory over Japanese standout Tatsuro Taira. The 24-year-old had entered tonight's rematch sporting a seven-fight winning streak.

Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja (30-6 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time since suffering that aforementioned arm injury against Van at UFC 323. Prior to that setback, ‘The Cannibal' had strung together a seven-fight winning streak, an impressive stretch which included four successful title defenses over opponents Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France.

Tonight's UFC 331 main event proved to be an absolute thriller. Alexandre Pantoja came out guns blazing, but Joshua Van was able to weather the early onslaught and get his boxing going shortly thereafter. While Pantoja was able to get the fight to the floor in dominant positions on multiple occasions, he was never able to get off any really solid offense from those spots. The fight seemed to be razor close heading into the fifth and final round, but it was in those last five minutes that Van cemented his status as champion. He was able to drop the Brazilian with a right hand and pretty much controlled the entire fifth round.

Official UFC 331 Results: Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–47, 50–45)

Check out how the pros reacted to ‘Van vs. Pantoja 2' below:

Post-fight reactions to Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331:

Who would you like to see Van fight next following his decision victory over Pantoja this evening in Los Angeles? Share your thoughts in the comment section Penn Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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MMA

UFC 331: 'Van vs. Pantoja 2' Live Results and Highlights

Published

11 hours ago

on

September 20, 2026

By

UFC 331: 'Van vs. Pantoja 2' Live Results and Highlights
Trending:

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The Octagon returns to Los Angeles for tonight's UFC 331 event, a 12-bout fight card headlined by Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2.

Van and Pantoja originally collided at UFC 323 in December of last year, where ‘The Fearless' walked away with the promotion's coveted men's flyweight title after ‘The Cannibal' suffered a nasty arm injury the rendered him unable to continue (see that here).

Joshua Van (17-2 MMA) has since successfully defended the 125lbs strap, this after earning a fifth-round TKO victory over Japanese standout Tatsuro Taira. The 24-year-old will enter tonight's rematch sporting a seven-fight winning streak.

Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja (30-6 MMA) will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since suffering the aforementioned arm injury against Van at UFC 323. Prior to that setback, ‘The Cannibal' was riding a seven-fight winning streak, a stretch which included four successful title defenses over the likes of Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France.

UFC 331 is co-headlined by a highly anticipated lightweight bout featuring Arman Tsarukyan taking on Maurício Ruffy.

(via Zuffa LLC)

Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA) will enter the contest on a five-fight winning streak, with his most recent Octagon victory coming against Dan Hooker via second-round submission in November of 2025. Prior to that triumph, ‘Batman' had earned a split decision win over current BMF title holder Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

Meanwhile, Maurício Ruffy (14-2 MMA) was most previously seen in action at June's UFC Freedom 250 event, where he scored an impressive first-round TKO win over former lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler. The hard-hitting Brazilian has gone 4-1 over his past five fights, with his lone setback in that time coming against Benoit Saint Denis by way of submission.

If that wasn't enough to get you interested, tonight's UFC 331 main card lineup also features a featherweight matchup between Patrício Pitbull and Doo Ho Choi.

Pitbull (37-9 MMA) will enter the bout looking to rebound, this after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Aaron Pico at April's UFC 327 event. Prior to that setback, the former Bellator champion was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige.

Meanwhile, Doo Ho Choi (17-4-1 MMA) currently boasts a three-fight winning streak, this after scoring TKO victories over Bill Algeo, Nate Landwehr and Daniel Santos. Prior to those impressive finishes, the Korean standout had fought Kyle Nelson to a majority draw.

Get all of tonight's live results and highlights below (refresh for updates):

UFC 331 Main Card (Paramount+, 9 p.m. ET)

Joshua Van (125) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (125) – Van def. Pantoja by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–47, 50–45)

Arman Tsarukyan (156) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155) – Tsarukyan def. Ruffy via KO (elbow) at 4:57 of Round 1

Patricio Pitbull (145.5) vs. Doo Ho Choi (146) – Pitbull def. Choi via KO (punches) at 3:28 of Round 1

Gable Steveson (240) vs. Sean Sharaf (241) – Sharaf def. Steveson via KO (punch) at 0:12 of Round 1

Alonzo Menifield (205.5) vs. Iwo Baraniewski (206) – Menifield def. Baraniewski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

UFC 331 Prelims (Paramount+, 7 p.m. ET)

Marlon Vera (136) vs. Charles Jourdain (135) – Vera def. Jourdain via TKO at 2:02 of Round 3

Tai Tuivasa (264.5) vs. Robelis Despaigne (263) – Despaigne def. Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Michael Aswell (146) vs. Joo Sang Yoo (145.5) – Aswell def. Yoo by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Ryan Gandra (186) vs. Ozzy Diaz (186) – Gandra def. Diaz via TKO (punches) at 2:04 of Round 1

UFC 331 Early Prelims (Paramount+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

Edmen Shahbazyan (185) vs. Brunno Ferreira (184.5) – Shahbazyan def. Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)

Casey O'Neill (125) vs. Eduarda Moura (125.5) – O'Neil def. Moura via submission (armbar) at 3:22 of Round 1

Giga Chikadze (146) vs. Joanderson Brito (145.5) – Brito def. Chikadze via KO (punches) at 1:57 of Round 1

Who are you picking to win tonight's flyweight title fight rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja? Share your predictions in the comment section Penn Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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