Overview
- The UFC 331 card is locked for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena and all 24 scheduled fighters successfully made weight at official weigh‑ins, clearing the way for fight night.
- The main event is a flyweight title rematch between champion Joshua Van and former champion Alexandre Pantoja that will serve as a full resolution to their first meeting, which ended after roughly 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered a severe arm injury.
- The five‑round co‑main pits Arman Tsarukyan against Mauricio Ruffy and is widely treated as a de facto lightweight eliminator, with the winner positioned to press for a shot at champion Justin Gaethje.
- Ceremonial faceoffs on Friday turned tense, with Tsarukyan and Ruffy nearly coming to blows and UFC president Dana White and security intervening to separate the fighters.
- Pre‑fight markets list Van as a modest favorite and expert outlets offer split predictions that hinge on Van’s youth and boxing versus Pantoja’s experience and grappling, a result that could quickly reshape the flyweight and lightweight title picture.