UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja Predictions & Betting Odds

The UFC is back in Los Angeles this weekend. That may not seem like a big deal, but it is. The promotion hasn’t been to the City of Angels since 2018. The main card for UFC 331 gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, and it ends with a massive flyweight matchup as the headliner.

In the main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van (17-2) will look to beat Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) for real after their first matchup ended early due to an injury. Can Pantoja reclaim the belt he had from 2023-2025, or will Van prove he deserves to wear the flyweight strap? Read on for our tale of the tape, UFC betting odds, and our best bet for the fight!

UFC 331: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja Flyweight Championship Main Event Bout - September 19 - 9 P.M. EDT

All odds provided by Powerplay.

Tale of the Tape:

Category	Joshua Van	Alexandre Pantoja
Height	5’5” (1.65 m)	5’5” (1.65 m)
Weight	125 lbs (57 kg)	125 lbs (57 kg)
Reach	65” (175 cm)	68.0” (173 cm)
Age	24	36
Nickname	The Fearless	The Cannibal
Fighting Stance	Orthodox	Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed/Minute	8.43	4.38
Strikes Absorbed/Minute	5.82	3.88
Takedown Average	0.82	2.79
Takedown Defense	76 %	69 %
Current Ranking	Champ	No. 1
Fighting Out Of	Houston, Texas, U.S.	Arraial do Cabo, Brazil

Fight Analysis & Prediction

( C ) Joshua Van vs. No. 1 Alexandre Pantoja Flyweight Championship Main Event Betting Odds

Fighter	Moneyline	Spread	Rounds	Win by Decision	Win by KO/TKO/DQ	Win by Submission	Go the Distance
Joshua Van	-130	-5.5 (+122)	O3.5 (+100)	+375	+175	+1,650	Yes (+150)
Alexandre Pantoja	+110	+5.5 (-155)	U3.5 (-130)	+425	+1,000	+270	No (-190)

The first time these two met, it was Alexandre Pantoja who was defending the flyweight title and Joshua Van who came in as the challenger. Unfortunately, Pantoja dislocated his arm during an innocuous exchange just 30 seconds into that fight.

The 36-year-old Brazilian has not fought since that fateful day in December 2025 as he recovers from what everyone saw to be a pretty gruesome freak injury. Van, however, has kept busy, burnishing his champion credentials with a dominant fifth-round TKO win over Tatsuro Taira in May.

That Van-Taira fight was a Fight of the Night scrap, and it proved that Van wasn’t lucky to be wearing the belt. What was most impressive was Van’s ability to keep Taira on the feet and avoid any takedowns. And if the young, strong Japanese fighter couldn’t do it, we don’t really see how the aging Pantoja will do it. The strength might not be there anymore.

And if it does stay on the feet, it’s no contest. Van is one of the best boxers in the UFC full-stop. Pantoja is alright in the stand up, but his biggest strengths are in his jiu-jitsu and ground work.

Van should be able to piece Pantoja up and use his above average defence to avoid any big shots coming the other way. He’ll show everyone that despite being just 24 years old, he’s the best at 125 pounds right now.

Best Bet: Joshua Van Moneyline (-130)