UFC 331 Van vs Pantoja 2 – Preview, start time & where to watch
(Courtesy : UFC)
Joshua Van gets a full five rounds to prove his flyweight title reign is no fluke.
UFC returns to Los Angeles this weekend for the first time since UFC 227 in 2018, setting up shop at the Crypto.com Arena for UFC 331 Van vs. Pantoja 2.
Topping the bill is an immediate rematch nobody saw finishing the way it did the first time around — flyweight champion Joshua Van defends his belt against the man he took it from, former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja.
Their first meeting at UFC 323 in December lasted just 26 seconds before an arm injury halted Pantoja’s offense and handed Van the title via TKO.
It was an unsatisfying way for a reign to end, and Pantoja now gets the rematch he’s been chasing ever since, this time looking to settle the score over a full five rounds rather than a matter of seconds.
The card took a hit during fight week when Brian Ortega’s lightweight bout with Renato Moicano was pulled due to injury, trimming the lineup by one fight.
Every remaining bout on the main card has since moved up a slot, and UFC Fight Pass now has the card kicking off half an hour later than the usual pattern to account for the shorter night. It’s still worth double-checking the listing on your specific broadcaster, as the change hasn’t been reflected everywhere yet.
The co-main event carries its own title implications. Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy meet over five rounds with a shot at the lightweight number one contender spot on the line.
Tsarukyan enters as the wrestling-heavy favourite for many, with the expectation that he’ll look to put Ruffy on his back rather than test him on the feet.
Ruffy, for his part, will need to have made real strides in his takedown defence and scrambling if he’s going to keep the fight standing long enough to make it count. Either way, the winner is likely to be next in line for UFC gold at 155 pounds.
UFC 331 Van vs Pantoja 2: Fight Card
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Main Card
- Main Event: Joshua Van (C) vs Alexandre Pantoja 2 (Flyweight Title)
- Co–Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy (Lightweight)
- Patricio Pitbull vs Dooho Choi (Featherweight)
- Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf (Heavyweight)
- Alonzo Menifield vs Iwo Baraniewski (Light Heavyweight)
Prelims
- Marlon Vera vs Charles Jourdain (Bantamweight)
- Tai Tuivasa vs Robelis Despaigne (Heavyweight)
- Michael Aswell Jr. vs Joosang Yoo (Featherweight)
- Ryan Gandra vs Ozzy Diaz (Middleweight)
Early Prelims
- Edmen Shahbazyan vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
- Casey O’Neill vs Eduarda Moura (Women’s Flyweight)
- Giga Chikadze vs Joanderson Brito (Featherweight)
Date, time, and where to watch UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 |
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Venue | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California |
| Early Prelims (US) | 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT |
| Prelims (US) | 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT |
| Main Card (US) | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT |
| Early Prelims (India) | 3:00 AM IST (Sept 20) |
| Prelims (India) | 4:30 AM IST (Sept 20) |
| Main Card (India) | 6:30 AM IST (Sept 20) |
| Early Prelims (UK) | 10:30 PM BST |
| Prelims (UK) | 12:00 AM BST (Sept 20) |
| Main Card (UK) | 2:00 AM BST (Sept 20) |
| Early Prelims (Australia) | 7:30 AM AEST (Sept 20) |
| Prelims (Australia) | 9:00 AM AEST (Sept 20) |
| Main Card (Australia) | 11:00 AM AEST (Sept 20) |
| Where to watch (US) | Paramount+ |
| Where to watch (India) | Sony Sports Network & SonyLIV |
| Where to watch (UK) | TNT Sports |
| Where to watch (Australia) | Main Event (Foxtel/Kayo), Paramount+ |
Who is headlining UFC 331?
Joshua Van defends his title against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in an immediate rematch at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
When does UFC 331 start?
The event takes place on Saturday, September 19, with the main card starting at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT.
Where will UFC 331 take place?
The card will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, marking the promotion’s first visit to the city since UFC 227 in 2018.
Where can I watch UFC 331?
In the US, the event streams live on Paramount+. International viewers can check the broadcaster list above for their region.
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