Pantoja seeks redemption in UFC flyweight title rematch against Joshua Van
The 36-year-old Brazilian enters the bout as a betting underdog after losing the belt via a freak injury in their first meeting.
Alexandre Pantoja is set to challenge for the UFC 125-pound championship at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday, 23 August. The 36-year-old Brazilian will face Joshua Van in a rematch for the flyweight title, a bout that marks a significant shift in the division’s competitive landscape.
The original contest at UFC 323 in December ended in a dramatic fashion when Pantoja suffered a freak elbow dislocation just 26 seconds into the fight. Van secured a technical knockout victory, claiming the belt in what was intended to be Pantoja’s fifth title defence.
Pantoja returned to training just two days after the injury, working with one arm in a sling and undergoing physical therapy. He claims his right hand is now "very powerful" as a result of the rehabilitation process, a development that could influence the outcome of the upcoming bout.
Van, a 24-year-old from Myanmar who fights out of Houston, has won seven consecutive fights since his initial victory over Pantoja. This run includes a Fight of the Year performance against Brandon Royval in 2025 and a fifth-round technical knockout against Tatsuro Taira in May.
The betting markets have shifted significantly since the first meeting, where Pantoja was a 3-to-1 favourite. He now enters the rematch as the underdog, a position that reflects the momentum Van has built over the past year.
Pantoja, who moved to Florida in 2018 to train at American Top Team, believes he has not received sufficient recognition for his previous title reign. He was dropped from the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings following his injury loss, despite previously reaching No. 4 and becoming the first male flyweight to win a title bout after turning 35.
The event will be broadcast on Paramount+, a platform noted for bringing a new, interactive generation of fans to the sport. Pantoja acknowledges the change in fan support, noting that the new audience tends to back Van, but he remains focused on reclaiming the championship.
