THE APEX TIMES
UFC 331 main card announced, with Alexandre Pantoja set for a rematch against Joshua Van
The UFC has unveiled its UFC 331 main-card lineup headlined by Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van, a second meeting framed around the flyweight title picture.
UFC 331’s main card has been announced, and it centers on a rematch between flyweight contenders Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van in the event’s top spot. According to the announcement reported by Yahoo Sports, Pantoja is positioned to reclaim the UFC belt, while Van returns for another chance against the champion-caliber foe he already knows well.
The matchup carries immediate stakes because it is being presented as the next step in the belt picture for Pantoja. In flyweight, where short-notice adjustments and positional wrestling can swing rounds quickly, a rematch typically indicates that the first fight exposed clear advantages to address, rather than simply setting up another stylistic collision.
For Van, the rematch dynamic is as significant as the opponent. Getting a second fight on a major event card gives him a clearer runway to show what changed since their first meeting, whether that is in entry timing, takedown defense, or how he manages distance when Pantoja pushes the pace.
Pantoja’s side, meanwhile, is built around continuity. The reported framing is straightforward: Pantoja is looking to get his UFC belt back at UFC 331. That language implies the champion door is not fully closed, and this rematch is the most direct path to re-enter the championship conversation with force.
While the main event is the headline, the announcement also indicates that UFC 331 is expected to deliver a full, structured card under one roof. Without additional details here about the rest of the bouts, the most reliable takeaway is that UFC is leaning into a high-profile, belt-oriented rematch to define the event’s storyline.
What to watch next is how each fighter adapts for the second encounter. Rematches in MMA often separate performers by small tactical decisions, including how quickly they respond to pressure, whether they can dictate clinch outcomes, and how effectively they recover from exchanges that did not go their way the first time.
As the event approaches, the key developments to track will be the full official card confirmation from UFC, any weigh-in related notes, and how the broadcast positioning reflects the organization’s priorities for the flyweight title path.
Why It Matters
- The rematch format suggests UFC is using a second meeting to resolve key competitive questions in the flyweight title picture.
- A Pantoja win would reinforce his position as a primary title-contender and tighten the path to championship contention.
- For Van, the second fight is an opportunity to demonstrate concrete improvement against a known opponent on a marquee platform.
- UFC 331’s main event branding indicates the organization is prioritizing title-adjacent matchups to anchor the event’s public narrative.
Key Facts
- UFC 331’s main card has been announced.
- The reported main event features Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van.
- The matchup is described as a rematch for the flyweight contest.
- Yahoo Sports frames the fight around Pantoja’s effort to get his UFC belt back.
- UFC 331 is presented as a belt-relevant event, with the main event positioned as the central storyline.