UFC 331 live results: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2

For the first time in eight years, the Octagon returns to Los Angeles for a major UFC event as UFC 331 takes place inside the Crypto.com Arena, live on Paramount+.

The main event sees the UFC Flyweight Championship on the line as current champion Joshua Van defends against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a highly-anticipated rematch. Van defeated Pantoja for the flyweight title in December, but that result is marred by the fact Pantoja was injured less than 30 seconds in the fight, giving Van the win and the title. Pantoja has now recovered and they will pick up right where they left off.

In the co-main event, it is a five-round bout in the lightweight division with potential title shot implications on the line as Arman Tsarukyan takes on Mauricio Ruffy. Tsarukyan is looking to score his sixth consecutive win in his first fight since November, while Ruffy is looking to move to 3-0 in 2026 and score the upset.

The rest of the main card sees a featherweight bout between Patricio Pitbull and Doo Ho Choi; a heavyweight bout between undefeated rising prospect Gable Steveson and Sean Sharaf; and an explosive light heavyweight fight pitting Alonzo Menifield against Iwo Baraniewski.

PRELIMS | 5:30 PM ET | 2:30 PM PT

Featherweights- Giga Chikadze (15-6, 8-4 UFC) vs. Joanderson Brito (19-5-1, 7-3 UFC)

Brito lands a calf kick. Chikadze with a body kick. Chikadze lands a left hand. Brito rushes in and throws a combo. Chikadze lands another left hand followed by a leg kick. Chikadze lands a head kick followed by a few more kicks. Chikadze slips on a high kick and Brito gets inside of his guard and starts landing. Brito with heavy shots from the top and Chikadze is hurt badly and he goes out! What a finish by Brito!

Fight Result- Joanderson Brito def. Giga Chikadze by knockout (punches) at 1:57 of Round 1

From the source Women’s Flyweights- #12 Casey O’Neill (11-2, 6-2 UFC) vs. #13 Eduarda Moura (12-2, 3-2 UFC)

Moura catches a kick by O’Neill and puts O’Neill on the mat and starts working from the half-guard. Moura with a couple of right hands and an elbow from the top. O’Neill is controlling the arm and wrist from the bottom. Moura gets her arm free and lands a few big punches from the top. O’Neill tries to scramble out but Moura grabs the neck and locks in an anaconda choke. It is in tight but Moura loses the grip. O’Neill gets Moura inside of her guard. O’Neill reverses and locks in an armbar out of nowhere and Moura taps! What a reversal to a finish out of nowhere by O’Neill!

Fight Result- Casey O’Neill def. Eduarda Moura by submission (armbar) at 3:22 of Round 1

Middleweights- Edmen Shahbazyan (16-6, 9-6 UFC) vs. Brunno Ferreira (15-4, 6-4 UFC)

Shahbazyan lands some leg kicks in the early going. Shahbazyan continues to work the lead leg of Ferreira. Shahbazyan lands some more calf kicks. Shahbazyan lands a body kick. Ferreira being very patient. Shahbazyan lands another calf kick. Shahbazyan with a pair of left hands as Ferreira came forward. Shahbazyan back to the calf kicks as Ferreira is throwing zero offense. Shahbazyan lands a calf kick and he lands some left hands as Ferreira rushed in. Shahbazyan lands a solid jab. Shahbazyan lands a left hand and Ferreira retreats. 10-9 Shahbazyan.

Shahbazyan landing more calf kicks and he connects with a right hand. Ferreira is not doing much on offense as Shahbazyan is controlling this one. Shahbazyan is circling around but isn’t landing a whole lot, but neither is Ferreira. Shahbazyan lands a right hand. Shahbazyan with the double jab. Ferreira lands a right hand but also eats one from Shahbazyan. Shahbazyan lands to the body. Ferreira lands a calf kick. Shahbazyan with a body kick and then another. He lands another followed by a calf kick. Ferreira lands a side kick to the knee. They trade in close range and Shahbazyan lands a jab. 10-9 Shahbazyan, 20-18 Shahbazyan.

Ferreira lands a right hand. Shahbazyan lands a leg kick. Ferreira is starting to land more punches and lands a knee to the body. Ferreira lands a jab. Shahbazyan lands a calf kick. Ferreira with a leg kick. Shahbazyan lands a right hand. Ferreira with a spinning elbow. Ferreira misses a jumping knee and Shahbazyan grabs the body lock against the fence. Shahbazyan gets a takedown and has the back as they get to their feet. Shahbazyan lands a big elbow as they separate. Shahbazyan lands a jab and then shoots for a takedown and lands as they break after Ferreira defends. Shahbazyan lands a jab then a left hook and Ferreira stumbles to the mat. Shahbazyan lands a right hand and drops Ferreira at the end. 10-9 Shahbazyan, 30-27 Shahbazyan.

Fight Result- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Bruno Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Middleweights- Ryan Gandra (10-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Ozzy Diaz (10-4, 1-2 UFC)

Gandra lands a leg kick. Gandra lands a pair of left hands. Gandra with a front kick. Diaz lands a short elbow. Gandra lands a jab followed by a big flurry. Gandra is landing lots of punches against the fence and Diaz goes down and Gandra is landing lots of punches and it is all over! Another big finish at the hands of Gandra.

Fight Result- Ryan Gandra def. Ozzy Diaz by knockout (punches) at 2:04 of Round 1

Featherweights- Michael Aswell Jr. (11-5, 1-3 UFC) vs. Joo Sang Yoo (9-1, 1-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks and Yoo lands a right hand. Aswell lands a calf kick. Yoo with a leg kick. Aswell lands a jab and Yoo counters with a right hand. Yoo with a calf kick. Aswell lands a pair of right hands. Yoo lands a jab and Aswell lands a left hand. They trade in close range as Aswell lands a right hand. They both land inside the pocket. Yoo works the jab and both connect with right hands in close. Aswell is landing more and cuts Yoo open. Aswell lands a solid right hand. Aswell lands a leg kick. Yoo with a spin kick but Aswell blocks it. They trade jabs. Aswell with a low kick. Aswell lands a combination. They tie up late. 10-9 Aswell.

Aswell pressing forward and throwing but Yoo ducks. They clinch against the fence as Aswell looks for a takedown. Aswell lands some knees and controls and they break apart. They trade but there isn’t a whole lot of action going on. Aswell looks for a takedown and lands a combination as they separate. Aswell works the jab. Yoo looks for a takedown late, but Aswell defends. 10-9 Aswell, 20-18 Aswell.

Yoo lands a few leg kicks. Aswell with a leg kick. Yoo lands a left hand. Aswell with another leg kick. Yoo looks for a takedown opening but eats a jab from Aswell. Aswell lands some more but Yoo lands a right hand. Yoo with some more right hands as he’s pressing on the gas pedal, but Aswell lands a right hand. They trade right hands. Yoo scores a takedown and passes the guard. Yoo is controlling from the top but not doing much other than holding. Yoo is in side control. They scramble up and both land right hands at the end. 10-9 Yoo, 29-28 Aswell.

Fight Result- Michael Aswell Jr. def. Joo Sang Yoo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Heavyweights- Tai Tuivasa (14-10, 8-10 UFC) vs. Robelis Despaigne (6-2, 1-2 UFC)

Despaigne clips Tuivasa with a left hand as Tuivasa was coming forward. Despaigne lands big uppercuts. Tuivasa lands a left hand and some big right hands. They are both landing and Tuivasa goes down for a moment. They are still both swinging. Tuivasa pushes it against the fence and lands some knees. Tuivasa pulls guard as they go down. Despaigne gets the mount. Despaigne lands some hammerfists. Tuivasa gives up his back. They get up. Tuivasa lands an elbow. They tie up against the fence. Tuivasa scores a takedown. Tuivasa lands from the top. Tuivasa looking for a choke but is on the side. 10-9 Despaigne.

Tuivasa lands a right hand. Tuivasa rocks Despaigne with a left hand. They clinch up. Tuivasa lands a couple of knees. Tuivasa is working for a takedown and Despaigne is gassed out. Tuivasa lands as they break. Despaigne lands a knee and Tuivasa pushes it against the fence. Tuivasa lands. Despaigne scores a takedown. Despaigne is in the half-guard of Tuivasa but neither of them are doing much. Despaigne lands some right hands from the top. They are stood up. Tuivasa gets the body lock against the fence. 10-9 Despaigne, 20-18 Despaigne.

Tuivasa lands a leg kick that trips Despaigne up and they clinch against the fence. Tuivasa lands to the body and has control against the fence. Tuivasa working for a takedown but eating body shots from Despaigne. They separate and Tuivasa lands some big punches before they tie back up. Despaigne gets a takedown. Despaigne lands some right hands from the top. They are both gassed. Despaigne landing punches. They get to their feet and stay tied up. 10-9 Despaigne, 30-27 Despaigne.

Fight Result- Robelis Despaigne def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

From the source Bantamweights- #10 Marlon Vera (23-12-1, 15-11 UFC) vs. Charles Jourdain (18-8-1, 9-7-1 UFC)

Jourdain lands some leg kicks and lands to the body as they clinch. Jourdain lands on the break. Jourdain lands a front kick to the body. Jourdain with a leg kick. Jourdain with a quick combination. Vera fires back a quick combination. Vera grabs a kick from Jourdain and scores a takedown. Vera lands as he lets Jourdain up. Jourdain lands to the body and then a knee to the body. Jourdain lands a leg kick. Jourdain with a head kick. Jourdain lands a right hand. Vera lands a combo and Jourdain lands a leg kick. Vera takes Jourdain’s back standing, but they separate and Jourdain lands to the body. Vera catches another Jourdain kick and gets a takedown. Vera lands from the top. They get to their feet and Vera has the back. Vera lands a combination at the end. 10-9 Vera.

They are trading as Vera lands a short elbow and Jourdain lands an uppercut. Vera with a right hand then a heavy leg kick. Vera lands a left hand and a knee as they clinch. Jourdain lands an elbow, and Vera lands one after they break apart. Vera lands a leg kick and a right hand that puts Jourdain on the mat. Vera lets Jourdain up and pounces on him with a knee and elbow. Vera lands a combination. Jourdain lands a leg kick. Jourdain looks for a jumping knee and falls to the mat. Vera lands some big punches from the top. Jourdain gets to his feet. Jourdain lands to the body. Vera with a body kick. Vera lands a knee and Jourdain goes to the mat. 10-9 Vera, 20-18 Vera.

Vera lands a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Vera lands a left hand. Vera with a leg kick. Vera lands an elbow in close range. Vera with a combo then a body kick. Vera hurts Jourdain with a left hand and Jourdain falls down to the mat and it is all over as Jourdain waves it off! Vera picks up the big win.

Fight Result- Marlon Vera def. Charles Jourdain by TKO (retirement) at 2:02 of Round 3

MAIN CARD | 9 PM ET | 6 PM PT

From the source Light Heavyweights- #14 Alonzo Menifield (18-6-1, 11-6-1 UFC) vs. Iwo Baraniewski (9-0, 3-0 UFC)

Baraniewski with a front kick. Menifield lands a short combo followed by a right hand. Menifield lands a left hand. Baraniewski with a high kick that Menifield blocks. Baraniewski lands a jab then a right hand. Menifield lands a jab. Baraniewski with a big right hand. Baraniewski lands a right hand and Menifield is on shaky legs. Baraniewski with a pair of punches as they clinch. Baraniewski lands a knee to the body. They separate and both are swinging. Baraniewski hurts Menifield with a right hand and scores a takedown despite being busted open. Baraniewski gets the mount. Baraniewski has back control as they stand. Baraniewski lands on the break. Baraniewski cracks Menifield with a left hand. 10-9 Baraniewski.

They both come out trading before tying up. They separate to the center and exchange jabs. Baraniewski lands to the body. Baraniewski lands some big punches but Menifield cracks him as he was rushing in. They clinch against the fence. Baraniewski reverses position. Baraniewski lands a knee and Menifield lands a left hand. Baraniewski lands to the body, but then Menifield lands a combination as they separate. Baraniewski lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Menifield lands a right hand and lands more late. 10-9 Baraniewski, 20-18 Baraniewski.

Baraniewski lands a right hand. Menifield gets the back along the fence. Baraniewski reverses and lands a pair of knees. They trade knees. They’re just holding onto each other and not doing much of anything. Baraniewski lands a knee. Baraniewski with an elbow. They are separated by the referee. Menifield throws the jab despite having a broken thumb and he lands an elbow. They trade jabs. Menifield lands a left hand. Baraniewski lands and they are tied up. Menifield lands to the body. Baraniewski with a late spinning elbow. 10-9 Menifield, 29-28 Baraniewski.

Fight Result- Alonzo Menifield def. Iwo Baraniewski by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Heavyweights- Gable Steveson (4-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Sean Sharaf (4-2, 0-2 UFC)

Steveson lands a leg kick but then Sharaf lands a massive left hook that drops Steveson and he is out cold!!! What an upset by Sharaf!

Fight Result- Sean Sharaf def. Gable Steveson by knockout (punch) at :12 of Round 1

From the source Featherweights- #15 Patricio Pitbull (37-9, 1-2 UFC) vs. Doo Ho Choi (17-4-1, 6-3-1 UFC)

Choi lands to the body. They briefly clinch but quickly separate. Choi lands an uppercut. Pitbull lands to the body of Choi. Pitbull lands a body kick and then a right hand. Pitbull lands another right hand. Pitbull working the jab and lands a combination. Pitbull lands to the body and follows with a big right hand. Pitbull is pouring on the punches as Choi is hurt a little. They trade in close range. Pitbull continues to land more, but then Choi lands a small flurry. Pitbull lands a massive right hand and Choi goes down. Pitbull starts landing from side control and Choi is covering up and it is stopped! Pitbull gets the massive win.

Fight Result- Patricio Pitbull def. Doo Ho Choi by knockout (punches) at 3:28 of Round 1

Lightweights- #2 Arman Tsarukyan (23-3, 10-2 UFC) vs. #7 Mauricio Ruffy (14-2, 5-1 UFC)

Tsarukyan lands a leg kick. Ruffy lands a jab. Ruffy connects with a right hand. Tsarukyan shoots for a takedown and has the single leg. Ruffy is defending. Tsarukyan gets the body lock as Ruffy lands to defend. Tsarukyan is working hard to get it down against the fence. Tsarukyan has back control for a moment and then lands a big elbow. Ruffy did grab the fence as Tsarukyan had the back when Tsarukyan almost got it down. Ruffy lands an elbow as they separate. Tsarukyan lands a right hand. Tsarukyan lands some elbows against the fence and Ruffy goes down as he is out cold! WOW! What a finish from Tsarukyan!

Fight Result- Arman Tsarukyan def. Mauricio Ruffy by knockout (elbows) at 4:56 of Round 1

UFC Flyweight Championship- C Joshua Van (17-2, 10-1 UFC) vs. #1 Alexandre Pantoja (30-6, 14-4 UFC)

Pantoja gets a takedown right away. Van lands from the bottom. Pantoja gets the mount. Van is slapping the ear of Pantoja from the bottom. They scramble as Van is able to reverse, though Pantoja landed some punches from the back before the reversal. Van now working from inside the guard of Pantoja. They get to their feet. Van lands a combination. Pantoja with a right hand and lands a pair of knees. They trade and Pantoja looked for a trip, but Van shakes him off. Van lands a jab. Van with an uppercut as Pantoja lands a knee. Pantoja lands a leg kick followed by a jab. Van with a combination. Van lands an elbow and Pantoja was briefly hurt. Pantoja scores a takedown. They scramble up near the end. 10-9 Pantoja.

They come out trading as Van lands to the body and Pantoja lands some knees. Timeout is called for a clash of heads as Pantoja is cut open. They return to action. They tie up against the fence as Pantoja is looking for a takedown. Van defends and they separate. They trade leg kicks and Van lands a combination and then a jab. They trade jabs. Pantoja with a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket and Van lands a stiff jab. Van with a front kick to the body, then Pantoja lands a pair of jabs. Pantoja looks for a takedown, but Van defends. Van lands some hard punches and Pantoja tries for a takedown, but Van ends up on top. Van backs off and lets Pantoja up. Van lands a right hand. Van lands to the body. Pantoja with a right hand. Pantoja scores a takedown. They scramble and Pantoja gets Van’s back. Time runs out. 10-9 Van, 19-19.

Van with some leg kicks and they trade in an exchange. Van lands a pair of right hands. Pantoja with a leg kick. They trade in close range. Pantoja looks for a takedown, but Van defends against the fence. They break apart. Van works the jab. Pantoja lands a body kick and Van lands a combo and Pantoja also lands a combo. Van lands a calf kick. Pantoja with a left hand. Van lands a combo to the body. Both land inside the pocket as Pantoja was walking right thru Van’s punches. Pantoja looks for a takedown, but Van defends and controls against the fence. They separate. Van lands a right hand, but Pantoja is able to drop down and score a takedown. They get to their feet. Van lands a big flurry ending with a head kick. Van with a big right hand. 10-9 Van, 29-28 Van.

Pantoja lands a head kick that connects and Van eats it perfectly. Pantoja looks for a takedown, but Van defends it. Van lands a combination ending with a left hook. Van is landing as Pantoja is pressing forward. Pantoja gets a takedown. Pantoja is inside the guard of Van but there isn’t a lot of action taking place. Pantoja is holding onto the body of Van and controlling, but not much is landing from either side. Pantoja gets into side control. Van is attacking the leg, but Pantoja gets out and retains side control. Pantoja ends the round on top. 10-9 Pantoja, 38-38.

Pantoja lands a body kick. Van lands a right hand. Pantoja is spamming kicks trying to keep Van at a distance. Van lands a right hand. They trade punches. Pantoja with a leg kick and Van lands a combination. Van lands a big combination. Pantoja throws a kick, but Van catches it and lands. Van lands a pair of right hands that stun Pantoja. They trade and Van drops Pantoja with a right hand. Van gets on top and quickly passes to side control. Van looked for a kimura, but lets go and lets it get up. Van lands a right hand. Pantoja looks for a desperate takedown, but Van defends. Van is pouring on punches late. Pantoja looks for a takedown, but Van defends and ends up on top. Van lands and they get up. Van lands a big combination and they trade late. Fantastic fight. 10-9 Van, 48-47 Van.

Fight Result- Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 50-45) to retain the UFC Flyweight Championship