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Joshua Van retains flyweight title at UFC 331; Arman Tsarukyan earns title shot

5 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 20, 2026, 6:25 AM

Last updated Sep 20, 2026

Joshua Van retains flyweight title at UFC 331; Arman Tsarukyan earns title shot

Summary

Joshua Van defended his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, winning by unanimous decision in a thrilling five-round rematch. Van, now 12 fights into his UFC career, showcased his evolving skills, securing key moments despite Pantoja's aggressive approach. In the co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan marked his return to title contention with a first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy, extending his winning streak to six fights. Both fighters are now positioned for significant opportunities in their respective divisions.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•Joshua Van wins by unanimous decision against Alexandre Pantoja.
•Van showcased improved boxing and takedown defense throughout the fight.
•Arman Tsarukyan scores a first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy.
•Tsarukyan's victory puts him back in title contention at lightweight.
•UFC 331 marks the promotion's return to downtown Los Angeles after eight years.

Latest Updates

7:21 AMESPN MMA — UFC 331 takeaways: Are we living in the greatest era for lightweights?
6:10 AMMMA Fighting — UFC 331 post-fight show: Reaction to Joshua Van and Arman Tsarukyan’s big wins, Gable Steveson’s brutal knockout loss
6:10 AMYahoo Sports — UFC 331 post-fight show: Reaction to Joshua Van and Arman Tsarukyan’s big wins, Gable Steveson’s brutal knockout loss
5:27 AMYahoo Sports — UFC 331: 5 big takeaways after Joshua Van, Arman Tsarukyan, Sean Sharaf lead night of shocks and surprises
5:19 AMCBS Sports — UFC 331 results, takeaways: Joshua Van emerges as a top talent; Arman Tsarukyan earns his title shot

What they're saying

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia reacts after a knockout victory against Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil in a lightweight fight during the UFC 331 event at Crypto.com Arena on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) UFC 331 delivered one of the craziest cards of the year, and in the main event, Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja put on a classic, but it was Van that emerged as the better man with an impressive fifth round to close the show and retain the flyweight title. Arman Tsarukyan also earned himself a shot at UFC gold with a brutal knockout win. Will Tsarukyan finally get his day in court? MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to UFC 331, Van’s sensational performance, Tsarukyan’s cold-blooded knockout, and what’s next. Additionally, topics include Sean Sharaf knocking Gable Steveson unconscious to pull of the biggest upset in UFC history, Patricio Pitbull’s standout performance, Marlon Vera’s throwback outing in his stoppage of Charles Jourdain, and much more. Watch the UFC 331 post-fight show above, or an audio-only version of the show can also be streamed below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your pods.
— MMA Fightingby Mike Heck

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The five biggest takeaways from UFC 331 in Los Angeles, from Joshua Van's brilliant title defense to Gable Steveson's shocking knockout loss.
— Yahoo Sportsby Ben Fowlkes