UFC 331 Payouts – How much will Joshua Van, Alexandre Pantoja & others get paid? Reported & estimated salaries
(Courtesy : UFC)
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja will settle unfinished business at UFC 331.
The UFC returns to Los Angeles for the first time in eight years, with UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 taking place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena.
The pay-per-view is topped by a flyweight title rematch between reigning champion Joshua Van and the man he took the belt from, former champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Their first meeting at UFC 323 in December 2025 lasted just 26 seconds, ending when Pantoja suffered a shoulder injury as Van dumped him to the mat — a title change that left both men with plenty to prove.
A five-round lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy serves as the co-main event, with title implications attached at 155 pounds.
There is also extra money in play on Saturday night. UFC CEO Dana White has announced a one-off $50,000 “proper chaos bonus”, tied to the second-season premiere of Paramount+ series MobLand, which he will personally award to the fighter he feels deserves it most.
That sits on top of the promotion’s current structure of $100,000 Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards, plus $25,000 for finishes that miss out on the headline bonuses.
Also Read: UFC 331 Van vs Pantoja 2 – Preview, start time & where to watch
When does UFC 331 start?
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
| Event | Time (ET) | Time (BST) | Time (IST) | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Prelims | 5:30 PM | 10:30 PM | 3:00 AM (Sun) | 7:30 AM (Sun) |
| Prelims | 7:00 PM | 12:00 AM (Sun) | 4:30 AM (Sun) | 9:00 AM (Sun) |
| Main Card | 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM (Sun) | 6:30 AM (Sun) | 11:00 AM (Sun) |
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja’s estimated payout
Joshua Van’s earning power has climbed faster than almost anyone on the roster over the past two years. Before his title shot, the Myanmar-born flyweight was reportedly banking around $145,000 per appearance, but reports following UFC 323 suggested his championship-winning night pushed his total earnings past the $1 million mark once win money, incentive pay and discretionary bonuses were accounted for.
For his first defence as champion, and as the A-side of a PPV main event — Van’s guaranteed base is projected in the $500,000-$750,000 range, with total earnings potentially climbing toward $1.5 million depending on pay-per-view performance and bonuses.
Alexandre Pantoja arrives as one of the division’s biggest earners of the modern era. During his four-defence reign, he moved past the seven-figure threshold, and reports ahead of UFC 323 pegged his purse for that night somewhere between $700,000 and $1 million.
The 36-year-old Brazilian no longer carries the champion’s share of PPV revenue, but former champions challenging in a main event still command premium money. Pantoja’s total earnings for UFC 331 are projected in the $500,000-$1 million bracket.
Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy’s estimated payout
The co-main event is where the biggest non-title cheque on the card will be written. Tsarukyan has been unusually candid about his compensation, telling Sherdog in 2025 that he takes home roughly $300,000 for a win and around $150,000 for a loss before tax and camp expenses. His largest disclosed payday to date came at UFC 300, where commission filings put him at $306,000.
With a five-round slot on a numbered card and career earnings reported to be around the $2 million mark, Tsarukyan’s UFC 331 total is projected between $300,000 and $500,000 once win money and potential bonuses are included.
Mauricio Ruffy has been one of the promotion’s fastest-rising strikers since his Contender Series arrival, and his highlight-reel finishes have made him a regular bonus candidate. His base pay is projected at the lower end of the contender scale, with total earnings estimated between $100,000 and $250,000 depending on the result and bonus outcomes.
UFC 331: Other fighters’ estimated payouts
Patricio Pitbull, a former two-division Bellator champion, entered the UFC on one of the more lucrative veteran deals handed to an outside import in recent years, and a main card slot against Dooho Choi should keep him comfortably in the six-figure bracket.
Marlon Vera remains one of the best-compensated fighters outside the top five at 135 pounds. California commission filings from his win over Dominick Cruz listed him at $300,000 including win money, and a similar bracket is expected here.
Tai Tuivasa’s earnings have historically been boosted by his drawing power rather than his ranking — a reported $860,000 for his UFC 293 bout against Alexander Volkov remains the outlier figure in his career — though a prelim slot on a long losing run points to a more modest number this time.
Newer names such as Michael Aswell Jr., JooSang Yoo, Ryan Gandra and Ozzy Diaz sit at the entry end of the pay scale, typically in the $20,000-$50,000 range depending on tenure and record.
UFC 331 main card fighters’ estimated payouts
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Joshua Van | $750,000 – $1,500,000 |
| Alexandre Pantoja | $500,000 – $1,000,000 |
| Arman Tsarukyan | $300,000 – $500,000 |
| Mauricio Ruffy | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Patricio Pitbull | $150,000 – $300,000 |
| Dooho Choi | $75,000 – $150,000 |
| Gable Steveson | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Sean Sharaf | $30,000 – $60,000 |
| Alonzo Menifield | $80,000 – $160,000 |
| Iwo Baraniewski | $75,000 – $150,000 |
UFC 331 prelim fighters’ estimated payouts
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Marlon Vera | $250,000 – $400,000 |
| Charles Jourdain | $80,000 – $150,000 |
| Tai Tuivasa | $150,000 – $300,000 |
| Robelis Despaigne | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Michael Aswell Jr. | $20,000 – $45,000 |
| JooSang Yoo | $20,000 – $45,000 |
| Ryan Gandra | $25,000 – $50,000 |
| Ozzy Diaz | $25,000 – $50,000 |
UFC 331 early prelim fighters’ estimated payouts
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Edmen Shahbazyan | $70,000 – $140,000 |
| Brunno Ferreira | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Casey O’Neill | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| Eduarda Moura | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Giga Chikadze | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Joanderson Brito | $50,000 – $100,000 |
Note: All figures above are analyst projections based on prior UFC compensation data, commission filings and reported paydays. The UFC has not officially disclosed individual purses for UFC 331.
When is UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2?
UFC 331 takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Fans in India and Australia can catch the event in the early-to-late morning hours of Sunday, September 20, local time.
What time does the UFC 331 main card start?
The main card begins at 9:00 PM ET in the United States, 2:00 AM BST in the UK, 6:30 AM IST in India, and 11:00 AM AEST in Australia (Sunday, September 20).
What is the ‘proper chaos bonus’ at UFC 331?
It is a one-night-only $50,000 award announced by Dana White in partnership with Paramount+’s MobLand. White has not set any criteria for it and will personally decide which fighter on the card deserves it.
What is the ‘proper chaos bonus’ at UFC 331?
It is a one-night-only $50,000 award announced by Dana White in partnership with Paramount+’s MobLand. White has not set any criteria for it and will personally decide which fighter on the card deserves it.
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