The next numbered event on the UFC schedule, UFC 331, has its main card set. That Paramount+ streaming event takes place in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, September 19.
At the top of the card is a rematch between current UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and the man he took that title from, Alexandre Pantoja. Meanwhile, in the evening’s co-main event, the fight promotion has booked what appears to be a lightweight title eliminator. In that matchup, Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy. The winner of the five-round lightweight contest is likely to move on to meet champion Justin Gaethje.
The UFC announced the five-fight UFC 331 main card during Saturday’s UFC 330 fight card, which saw welterweight champion Islam Makhachev retain his title with a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry in the main event.
UFC 331 Main Card
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Maurício Ruffy
Patrício Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi
Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega
Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
UFC 331 Main Event: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2
Van (17-2) and Pantoja (30-6) faced off at UFC 323 in December. The bout lasted just 26 seconds, as an injury to Pantoja’s left arm as he fell to the mat left him unable to continue. The TKO loss ended Pantoja’s title run after four successful defenses. He initially won the UFC’s 125-pound crown in July 2023 with a split-decision win over Brandon Moreno. Pantoja’s title defense wins came against Brandon Royval (decision), Kai Asakura (submission), and Kai Kara-France (submission).
Van is coming off a May title defense win over Tatsuro Taira. That fight ended via TKO in the fifth round.
UFC 331 Co-Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Maurício Ruffy
The co-main event of UFC 331 is scheduled for five rounds, which should give fight fans some indication that the promotion is treating the matchup between Tsarukyan (23-3) and Ruffy (14-2) as something special.
Tsarukyan was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev in a title fight at UFC 311 at Crypto.com Arena, but was forced from that event on weigh-in day. Tsarukyan has fought once since then, beating Dan Hooker via submission in November.
Ruffy is coming off a June TKO victory over Michael Chandler at the White House in June.
We will have more on UFC 331 as fight night approaches.