The UFC flyweight title will be on the line when champion Joshua Van faces former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch at UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. Their first meeting ended after just 26 seconds when Pantoja injured his arm while attempting a takedown, leaving the championship result unresolved in practical terms.
Joshua Van
Last 3 bouts
Win. Alexandre Pantoja — TKO
Win. Brandon Royval — Unanimous Decision
Win. Bruno Silva — TKO
Strengths
High-volume striking
Excellent pace and cardio
Fast combinations
Strong pressure game
Durable and willing to exchange
Improving wrestling and grappling
Confidence from winning the UFC flyweight title
Comfortable in five-round fights
Weaknesses
Relatively short reach for the division
Can be hittable when exchanging
Sometimes relies heavily on forward pressure
Has less championship-level experience than Pantoja
Pantoja’s submission game remains a major threat
Keys to victory
Keep the fight at a high pace
Use combinations rather than single shots
Attack Pantoja while maintaining distance
Defend takedowns and avoid giving up his back
Make Pantoja work defensively throughout the fight
Use his youth and pace to push the champion into the later rounds
Alexandre Pantoja
Last 3 bouts
Lose. Joshua Van — TKO
Win. Kai Kara-France — Submission
Win. Kai Asakura — Submission
Strengths
Elite submission grappling
Excellent back-taking ability
Strong wrestling
Dangerous in scrambles
Aggressive pressure
Championship experience
Proven durability
Excellent finishing instincts
Weaknesses
Can absorb damage while moving forward
Gives up height and reach to some opponents
Aggressive entries can expose him to counters
Keys to victory
Close the distance quickly
Mix punches with takedown attempts
Get Van against the cage
Attack submissions during scrambles
Look for Van’s back
Avoid allowing Van to dictate the striking pace
Turn the fight into a grappling contest
Odds
Joshua Van -135
Alexandre Pantoja +114
