TLDR
- Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja in a five-round title fight at UFC 331 in Los Angeles
- Van revealed he tore his AC joint in his right shoulder after the Philadelphia press conference
- The injury prevented Van from sparring for most of his training camp, only returning two weeks before the fight
- Dana White praised Van’s performance and called him the greatest thing for the flyweight division
- Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in the first round to earn another title shot
Sources: ufc.com | mmafighting.com
Flyweight champion Joshua Van successfully defended his title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday night. After the five-round battle, Van revealed he fought through a major injury that derailed his entire training camp.
Van told reporters at the post-fight press conference that he tore his AC joint in his right shoulder shortly after the Philadelphia press conference. The injury occurred about a month before the fight and prevented him from sparring for most of his camp.
“I couldn’t even spar,” Van said. “So the last two weeks was my first time sparring and this camp we do nothing but cardio, just running and stuff like that.”
The 24-year-old champion will need to undergo MRIs to determine the full extent of the damage. He expressed hope that nothing major would be found, though his timetable for returning remains unclear.
“I don’t know whether [Joshua Van] is going to be the next Max Holloway or the next Jon Jones. He has so much potential that I don’t even know where to put it. It’s kind of ridiculous.” – @NewYorkRic
How high the ceiling is for Joshua Van? pic.twitter.com/VGly7hkyT7
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 21, 2026
Van’s Victory Cements Flyweight Dominance
Van’s win over Pantoja marked his second successful title defense and avenged any doubts from their first meeting. Their initial bout ended when Pantoja suffered a freak injury in the opening moments, giving Van the championship in controversial fashion.
UFC President Dana White praised Van’s performance during the post-fight press conference. “He’s the greatest thing ever for that division,” White said. “He brings a lot of flash and excitement and fun to the division.”
White specifically highlighted Van’s takedown defense and his escape from a full mount in the first round. “The kid looks incredible,” White said. “He looks better every time he fights, and you know that’s what it takes to be a long-reigning champion.”
Van drew motivation from training partner Michael Aswell, who also competed on the card with an injury. Aswell won his decision over Joo Sang Yoo despite hurting his rib during camp.
“Both of us are injured coming into this fight and you know, we push through it,” Van said.
When asked to describe his feelings after the fight, Van kept it simple. “I feel pain,” he said. “Pantoja is a great fighter. He’s one of the greatest of all-time in my eyes.”
Tsarukyan Returns to Title Contention
The co-main event featured Arman Tsarukyan’s comeback after withdrawing from a title fight at UFC 311 in January 2025. Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy with a first-round elbow, positioning himself for another championship opportunity.
White acknowledged his previous criticism of Tsarukyan’s decisions. “When you mess up, then you come back and you do everything the right way, I mean, he couldn’t have had a better comeback,” White said.
The card also featured Sean Sharaf’s stunning 12-second knockout of Gable Steveson. White used the upset as an example of why predicting fight outcomes is impossible.
“Anything is possible when two guys get in there and start fighting,” White said. “That’s why people always ask me what I think is going to happen. Let’s see what happens first.”
White also addressed questions about his relationship with Tom Aspinall, who recently relinquished the heavyweight title while recovering from a double eye-poke injury. White called reports of friction between them “the furthest thing from the truth” and said Aspinall’s decision to vacate was “totally normal” given his recovery timeline.
The likely next challenger for Van’s title is top contender Manel Kape, though Van said he would accept any opponent the matchmakers choose. His next fight date will depend on the results of his medical examinations.
