TLDR
- UFC 331 will take place September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the first UFC event there in over eight years
- Charles Oliveira will face Arman Tsarukyan in a five-round rematch 29 months after their UFC 300 fight
- The fight will not be for Oliveira’s BMF title despite being scheduled for five rounds
- UFC originally planned the bout for three rounds before changing to five rounds with no explanation given
- Flyweight champion Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2 is also planned, while Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes has been postponed
Sources: si.com
The UFC will return to Los Angeles for the first time in over eight years when UFC 331 takes place at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, September 19. The promotion announced the event during the UFC Belgrade broadcast on Saturday afternoon.
The main event will feature a lightweight rematch between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, according to respected MMA journalist Leo Guimaraes. Guimaraes verified the original report from Manouk Akopyan that first surfaced on July 27.
Tsarukyan defeated Oliveira by decision at UFC 300 in April 2024. The rematch comes 29 months after their first meeting.
BMF Title Will Not Be Defended
Oliveira won the UFC “BMF” title against former featherweight champion Max Holloway earlier this year. However, the title will not be on the line at UFC 331, Guimaraes confirmed.
The fight will still be contested over five rounds despite having no title at stake. Guimaraes wrote that the UFC initially planned the bout for just three rounds, and both fighters had begun preparing for that format.
🚨BREAKING: Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan 2 is set for UFC 331, on Sep 19.
5 rounds, no BMF belt on the line
via @leoguimaraesmma pic.twitter.com/3KlDNbixfK
— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) August 1, 2026
“However, the UFC backtracked and opted to turn the bout into a 25-minute fight,” Guimaraes reported. The promotion did not provide a reason for the change from three rounds to five rounds.
This marks the first September numbered UFC event in two years. Last year’s planned September event from Guadalajara was rebranded as a Fight Night from San Antonio, Texas after arena complications disrupted the UFC’s numbered event schedule.
Holloway recently defeated Conor McGregor in their rematch nearly a month ago. Oliveira’s BMF title win came against Holloway at UFC 317 in late June at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Additional Fights Planned for UFC 331
The UFC also plans to feature a flyweight title fight on the card. Champion Joshua Van is scheduled to defend his title for the second time this year in a rematch against Alexandre Pantoja.
The promotion attempted to add another big fight to the event. Kayla Harrison versus Amanda Nunes was reportedly in the works for UFC 331.
However, that fight has been postponed again, according to Guimaraes. No details were provided about when the bout might be rescheduled or why it fell through.
Guimaraes noted in a translated caption that the UFC’s planning for UFC 331 has faced several speed bumps and roadblocks before the final announcement. The promotion has not yet begun releasing the full fight card.
The event represents the UFC’s first numbered show in Los Angeles since 2017. The return to Crypto.com Arena comes as the promotion continues building out its fall schedule for 2025.
Both Oliveira and Tsarukyan had already begun training camps based on the three-round format before learning about the change. The UFC is expected to start rolling out additional fights for the card in the coming weeks.
