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UFC 331 Results: Joshua Van defeats Alexandre Pantoja (Highlights)

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3 weeks ago

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UFC 331 Results: Joshua Van defeats Alexandre Pantoja (Highlights)
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Jose Aldo set for October 4th fighting return vs. former UFC title challenger

We have you covered for all of tonight's UFC 331 results, including the men's flyweight title fight rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.

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.

Round one of the UFC 331 main event begins and Alexandre Pantoja gets Joshua Van down to the canvas within the first ten seconds. He begins working from full guard position. He quickly moves to full mount and has the champ flattened out. Van looking to land some shots from off his back, but he'd be better off attempting to scramble from this position. Pantoja moves to the back. He lands some big shots, but Van is able to slip outside and then land in top position. That was impressive, especially against ‘The Cannibal'. The Brazilian with a big combination. Now a huge knee to the body. And another. He looks for a trip takedown, but it is not there. The flyweight standouts both land jabs. Joshua Van with an uppercut. Alexandre Pantoja answers with another good knee to the body and then a pair of calf kicks. Van with a combination now. He lands a good left. Now an elbow from the champ. That appeared to stun Pantoja. Still, the former champ is able to get inside and land a takedown. He lands in full mount. Van scrambles and gets back to his feet. He lands a left hook before the buzzer.

Round two of the UFC 331 main event begins and Alexandre Pantoja comes forward quickly and lands a combination. Now a big knee. Joshua Van answers with a combination. The fighters trade in the pocket. Van slips and glances Pantoja with a shot. The cut causes a stoppage in the action and now the doctor is coming in to see how bad the injury is. We restart and Alexandre Pantoja is right back on the gas. He forces the clinch and pushes Van against the cage. Still four minutes left in this round. Pantoja with a takedown attempt, but he can't get it. He breaks off the cage and lands two low kicks. Van with a nice combination in return. Now a jab and then a low kick from the Brazilian. Alexandre Pantoja eats a hard jab. Now a low kick and then one to the body by Joshua Van. The fighters trade in the pocket. Pantoja shoots in and then opts to throw Van to the side. Good left hands from Van. Pantoja with a jab. He's leaking bad. He tries a trip takedown. Van avoids and is able to land on top. He opts to let ‘The Cannibal' back to his feet. Joshua Van with a big right. Pantoja with a takedown. He takes the back of the champ. Ten seconds remain. Alexandre looking for the choke but the horn sounds.

Round three of the UFC 331 headliner begins and Joshua Van lands a pair of hard jabs to start. Alexandre Pantoja with an inside low kick. Now a front kick and then a big knee. Van just eats it and seems to be just fine. He rips a hook to the body of the Brazilian. Pantoja with a low kick, but Van lands another solid right over the top. Both men are landing clean shots. Back and forth action this round. Pantoja gets inside and scores a big takedown with ninety seconds remaining. Some short shots from the former champ. Van scrambles back up. 25-seconds remain. Van with a big right and another. Pantoja says bring it on and lands a right of his own. This is a great fight. We head to round four.

Round four of the UFC 331 headliner begins and Alexandre Pantoja lands a hard body kick to start. He lands a good right now. Joshua Van answers with a left hook and then a nice right up the middle. Another right from the champ. Pantoja shoots in and scores a takedown. He needs to get off some offense from this position. He's in side control. Van gets back to full guard. We hit the halfway point of the round. He continues to keep Joshua Van grounded. This has been a big round for the former champ in terms of control and recovery. 70 seconds remain. Van attempts a heel hook. Alexandre Pantoja escapes and reestablishes top control. We head to one final round.

The fifth and final round of the UFC 331 main event begins and Joshua Van comes forward aggressively. Alexandre Pantoja keeps him at bay with three straight kicks. He lands another two. Van counters with a nice right hand. The fighters trade in the pocket. Van with a jab. Pantoja with a low kick. A nice right hook from Van. Now a big combination. Pantoja with a body kick. He lands another after missing with a left hook. A big right hand and now a left hook from the champ. Midway through the round now. Van rocks Pantoja. He's down. Van jumps on him. He looks for a kimura. Pantoja gets up but he's a mess. Joshua Van with a takedown. He's on top and working some shots. Alexandre Pantoja gets up and unloads some final punches but he's likely going to be on the wrong end of the judges' scorecards here. Great fight!

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

Who would you like to see Van fight next following his 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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Colby Covington drags Daniel Cormier into ugly Jon Jones feud

Published

16 hours ago

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October 9, 2026

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Colby Covington drags Daniel Cormier into ugly Jon Jones feud
Colby
Covington has brought Daniel
Cormier into his latest feud with Jon Jones.

Jones' protégé, Gable
Steveson, was knocked out by Sean Sharaf
in a major upset at UFC
331 in September in Los Angeles. Covington subsequently blamed
Jones' “bad energy†for Steveson's loss. Jones responded by saying
that Covington, his former college roommate, hasn't achieved even a
fraction of what he has in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Colby Covington tells Gable Steveson to leave Jon Jones for
Daniel Cormier

Covington responded by citing domestic abuse allegations against
Jones. “Chaos†said Jones' professional achievements don't excuse
his alleged conduct outside the cage. The former interim
welterweight champion then suggested that Steveson train with
Daniel
Cormier, Jones' longtime rival.

“The things I say only bother you because they're true,†Covington
wrote on X. “You're a narcissistic abusive sociopath. Your
achievements inside the Octagon don't make you a better person
outside of it. Those same achievements definitely don’t give you
the right to abuse women either, Jon. At the end of the day, I feel
for Gable being in this situation… It's too bad he can't take
punches from heavyweights as well as your wife does. If Gable
really cares about advancing in his career, he should leave you and
go train with a real man like Daniel Cormier.â€

Jones and Cormier's heated rivalry has continued since their
fighting careers ended. Jones defeated Cormier in their first UFC
bout, but his knockout victory in their rematch was overturned to a
no contest after “Bones†failed a drug test. Years after retiring,
“DC†has said he has no interest in reconciling with Jones.

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MMA

Mikey Musumeci vacates UFC BJJ title to ‘prioritize my training for MMA’

Published

17 hours ago

on

October 9, 2026

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Mikey Musumeci vacates UFC BJJ title to ‘prioritize my training for MMA’

Mikey Musumeci is no longer the UFC BJJ bantamweight champion, and he vacates the belt to focus on a potential transition to mixed martial arts in the future.

A former grappling champion in ONE Championship and four-time IBJJF world champion as a black belt, Musumeci was victorious in four title matches in UFC BJJ — all by submission — before entering the bowl this past September to win a decision over UFC bantamweight Bryce Mitchell.

“I am 30 years old and have been obsessed with training MMA and want to prioritize my training for MMA,†Musumeci wrote on a statement. “I train jiu-jitsu everyday still and can come back anytime.â€

That doesn't mean Musumeci will no longer compete in grappling and in UFC BJJ. He plans on continuing to do so, but without having to defend a title and possibly stalling the weight class as he pursues a new goal in MMA.

“I will continue to do more grappling super fights with UFC BJJ, just a different style of jiu-jitsu more to get people out of our sport to watch,†Musumeci wrote. “That means more to me at the point I am in my career. I want to thank everyone that has supported me and Claudia Gadelha and Hunter for how kind they have been with me and continue to be. Excited about my next chapter. SO MANY CRAZY THINGS AHEAD.â€

The now vacant UFC BJJ bantamweight title will be up for grabs in the main event of UFC BJJ 13 on Oct. 29, when Jalen Fonacier battles Kleber Barboza.

Check Musumeci's full statement below.

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MMA

Brendan Allen accuses Dricus du Plessis of taking ‘easier’ Kamaru Usman fight

Published

1 day ago

on

October 9, 2026

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Brendan Allen accuses Dricus du Plessis of taking ‘easier’ Kamaru Usman fight
Brendan
Allen has criticized Dricus Du
Plessis for allegedly avoiding a fight with him.

A matchup between Allen and du Plessis was reportedly in the works
in January. According to Allen, the bout fell through after he was
told du Plessis was injured. Du Plessis went on to face former

Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Kamaru
Usman in July, winning by unanimous decision.

Brendan Allen explains why he believes he was a tougher
opponent than Kamaru Usman

Allen has accused du Plessis of avoiding him in favor of an easier
fight against Usman. “All In†acknowledges that the 39-year-old
former welterweight champion remains a bigger draw. However, Allen
believes he presents a tougher matchup, prompting du Plessis to
take the “easier fight.â€

“I know he's had the opportunity to fight me and he took the easier
route,†Allen told UFC on Paramount+. “He can say whatever he
wants; it's a fact. We were supposed to fight. And somehow it got
worked that Kamaru's name got thrown in there. And obviously Kamaru
is a bigger draw even though he's older, up a weight class. He took
the easier fight, plain and simple. Everyone knows it was the
easier fight. I'm bigger, I'm stronger, I'm faster. I think I'm
more talented, but people are gonna play off of Kamaru's resume.
OK, play off his resume, but I don't think that Kamaru can make it
five rounds with me.â€

Allen (27-7) enters his
UFC Vegas 122 main event against Christian
Leroy Duncan (15-2) on Saturday in Las Vegas with three
consecutive victories. Duncan has won five straight fights.

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