TLDR
- Alexandre Pantoja lost to Joshua Van by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) at UFC 331 on September 19, 2026
- This marks Pantoja’s second consecutive loss to Van after losing his title in December at UFC 323 due to injury in 26 seconds
- Pantoja earned $650,000 for the fight despite the loss at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles
- After the fight, Pantoja posted a quote from Rocky Balboa on Instagram about perseverance through hardship
- A potential matchup against Tatsuro Taira, ranked No. 4 in the division, could be next for Pantoja
Sources: mmamania.com | sporf.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Former UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered his second consecutive loss to current champion Joshua Van at UFC 331 on September 19, 2026. The fight took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Van retained his title with a unanimous decision victory, with judges scoring the bout 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47. One judge’s 50-45 scorecard sparked controversy among fans.
Pantoja came into the rematch with determination after losing his title to Van in their first meeting at UFC 323 in December. That bout ended in just 26 seconds when Pantoja injured his elbow.
The Brazilian started strong in the rematch, taking Van down just 10 seconds into the fight. However, Van’s speed advantage became clear as the fight progressed.
Fight Breakdown Shows Van’s Control
Pantoja dominated the grappling exchanges early while Van won most of the striking battles. The former champion appeared emotional during the fight, complaining about what he believed were head butts.
Dana White says Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2 at #UFC331 was "probably the greatest grudge match in the history of the UFC."
White also calls Van's rise "the greatest thing ever for that (flyweight) division." pic.twitter.com/4ZSChQcm0S
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 20, 2026
By the third round, Pantoja showed signs of fatigue from his aggressive pace. Van’s takedown defense improved as the fight continued, repeatedly stopping Pantoja’s attempts.
In the fifth round, Van increased his output and picked apart Pantoja with strikes. The champion’s performance clearly impressed two of the three judges.
Despite the loss, Pantoja earned $650,000 for the fight. The payday provided some consolation for the disappointing result.
Pantoja Turns to Rocky for Inspiration
On Sunday following the fight, Pantoja posted a lengthy quote from Rocky Balboa on Instagram. The quote discussed perseverance and overcoming life’s challenges.
“I’ll tell you something you already know: The world is not a big rainbow,” Pantoja wrote, quoting the fictional boxer. “It’s a filthy place, it’s a cruel place. Who doesn’t care how tough you are.”
He continued with Rocky’s message about taking hits and moving forward. “But, it ain’t about hitting hard, it’s all about how much you can take it and move forward,” the post read.
Pantoja added his own message at the end, thanking fans for their support. “Thank you all for your kind words and support as always,” he wrote.
The 34-year-old Brazilian now holds a professional record of 30-7 overall and 14-5 in the UFC. He won the flyweight title in 2023 by defeating Brandon Moreno via split decision.
Pantoja successfully defended his title four times against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France. His reign ended with the freak injury loss to Van last December.
Van now has two victories over Pantoja and one over Tatsuro Taira, who is ranked fourth in the division. His record stands at 18-2 overall and 11-1 in the UFC.
A potential fight between Pantoja and Taira could make sense for both fighters. Taira also lost his most recent fight to Van, who stopped him in the fifth round.
Both Pantoja and Taira would need to work their way back into title contention after losing to the champion. A matchup between them could determine who gets closer to another title shot.
Pantoja was also transported to the hospital following UFC 331 due to the damage sustained during the fight. The extent of any injuries has not been publicly disclosed.
