UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 Picks & Predictions
The first meeting between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja ended before it ever had a chance to unfold. Pantoja dislocated his elbow just 26 seconds into the fight after Van caught a head-kick attempt and sent him to the mat, handing the title to the rising 24-year-old star. Now, the flyweights will run it back in the main event of UFC 331, with Van looking to validate his championship reign and Pantoja seeking to reclaim the belt he successfully defended four times. The action begins at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Let's break down the rematch and our top UFC 331 picks.
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UFC 331 Picks & Predictions: Van vs. Pantoja 2 (2026)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Van vs. Pantoja 2 Predictions
Joshua Van has not received much respect from sportsbooks, despite holding the belt. He came in as an underdog in his first defense against Tatsuro Taira, and was an even bigger underdog in the first fight against Alexandre Pantoja. The 24-year-old has quickly become one of the best strikers in the UFC and is still improving, but he is only a slight favorite against Pantoja in this fight.
Not much happened in the first fight before Pantoja's injury, but Van answered many questions in the Taira bout. Taira landed eight out of 21 takedowns in the fight, but Van got back to his feet quickly in most rounds. He did not just get back to his feet, either. Van let go of his hands and damaged Taira. He landed 131 significant strikes to Taira's 55 and scored two knockdowns in the second and third rounds before finishing him in the fifth.
Pantoja is an excellent striker, but he does his best work on the mat. He wants to get the fight to the mat and control opponents until he can lock in a submission. He has won four of his last eight fights via submission. Van has had two full training camps to prepare for Pantoja and has proven he can handle a fighter like Pantoja in Taira.
Van's striking is elite. He lands strikes to all three levels. He mixes it up to the head, body and legs really well. I expect Van to target Pantoja's body a lot, especially to make Pantoja worry while shooting takedowns. The more he throws hard body strikes, the more Pantoja worries as he lowers his level to take him down.
Pantoja is a veteran and should not be uncomfortable in the octagon after a little layoff. He may be worried about his injured arm, but Pantoja has showcased an elite mindset in 36 professional fights. Van is a quick starter and does not stop for five rounds, so Pantoja cannot waste time trying to find his timing. Van is the better fighter and finally gets the chance to show the world that the first fight was no fluke.
Van vs. Pantoja 2 Pick: Joshua Van Moneyline (-135)