Overview
- The flyweight title fight serves as the co-main event at UFC 323 on December 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, under Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan.
- Alexandre Pantoja enters on an eight-fight winning streak with recent submission victories and seeks a fifth consecutive defense of the belt.
- Joshua Van, 24, earned his shot after a decision win over Brandon Royval and rides a multi-fight surge that positions him to become the youngest active UFC champion with a win.
- Current betting lines list Pantoja as the favorite in the roughly -225 to -265 range, with odds having inched slightly toward Van since opening.
- UFC analyst Din Thomas argues Van’s opportunity may be premature due to Pantoja’s grappling and experience, while other pundits point to Van’s striking as his path to an upset.