Overview
- The UFC confirmed UFC 331 for Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles with a flyweight title rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja and a lightweight eliminator featuring Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy.
- The press conference, held Friday, Aug. 14, produced heated verbal exchanges between Van and Pantoja that required visible intervention during their faceoff.
- Dana White stepped between Tsarukyan and Ruffy after Tsarukyan advanced during their faceoff, reflecting concerns tied to Tsarukyan's prior provocative conduct, including a headbutt incident with Dan Hooker.
- American Top Team coach Everton Oliveira told reporters that Pantoja recovered from his prior injury without surgery and returned quickly to physical therapy, a narrative the promotion is using to frame his comeback.
- The onstage incidents sharpened promotional focus on fighter conduct and safety while raising attention on the Sept. 19 card and its title implications for both the flyweight and lightweight divisions.