Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 19 September 2026 Prediction

An intriguing rematch will headline UFC 331. Joshua Van is one of the youngest champions in UFC history. The 24-year-old striker has lost only once in the promotion and currently holds a 10-1 UFC record.

Alexandre Pantoja is a former champion who made four successful title defenses before losing the belt. His first fight with Van at UFC 323 ended in the opening round after Pantoja suffered an arm injury. Van now has a chance to validate his title against the recovered Brazilian veteran.

Joshua Van

Van is the most successful MMA fighter to emerge from Myanmar. His only UFC defeat came in his fourth appearance, when he suffered an upset loss to veteran Charles Johnson. He responded with five straight wins to earn a title shot. Pantoja sustained an arm injury in the first round of their fight, making Van the new champion. Van then defeated Japanese prospect Tatsuro Taira in his most recent bout.

Van is an elite striker with excellent boxing. He has an effective jab, sharp one-twos, and the ability to put together long combinations. He mixes up his targets well, attacks the body consistently, and has outstanding cardio. His takedown defense is also a major strength. Van continues to improve in every area, though he can be too open in striking exchanges and has a short reach for the division.

Titles: Fury FC champion (2022) and UFC champion (2025)

Alexandre Pantoja

A loss to the unbeaten Askar Askarov prompted Pantoja to make significant adjustments, and he eventually became the dominant champion at 125 pounds. The Brazilian put together three wins over top-level opponents to earn a title shot. He defeated Brandon Moreno in their rematch and went on to make four successful defenses before suffering an arm injury in his most recent fight.

Pantoja is primarily a grappler, but he is also a capable striker. He prefers to operate at mid-range, using low kicks, body kicks, and boxing combinations. His offense includes one-twos, hooks, and occasional knees to the body. He commits heavily to his punches, but he also absorbs a significant number of strikes.

Titles: RFA champion (2014, one defense) and UFC champion (2023, four defenses)

Notable Fights

Joshua Van: defeated Tatsuro Taira, Alexandre Pantoja, Brandon Royval, Bruno Silva, Rei Tsuruya, Cody Durden, and Edgar Chairez. Lost to Charles Johnson.

Alexandre Pantoja: lost to Joshua Van, Askar Askarov, and Deiveson Figueiredo. His notable wins include Kai Kara-France, Kai Asakura, Steve Erceg, Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Alex Perez, Manel Kape, and Matt Schnell.

Stats and Trends

• Van is much more active on the feet, landing 8.43 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 5.82. Pantoja lands 4.38 and absorbs 3.88. The former champion also averages 2.79 takedowns and 0.98 submission attempts per fight, while Van has a 76% takedown defense rate.
• Two of Pantoja’s last five fights went to the judges’ scorecards. Van has finished 13 of his 19 professional bouts. The fight not to go the distance is worth considering.

Van vs Pantoja Prediction: Van to Win Inside the Distance

Van enters the rematch as the favorite, and the line is justified. He is the superior striker and, more importantly, has strong takedown defense. Against Rei Tsuruya and Tatsuro Taira, he showed excellent balance and positional awareness on the ground. Pantoja is at a clear disadvantage in the striking exchanges, while returning from a serious injury at age 36 adds another concern. Van’s continued improvement, cardio, and ability to get back to his feet make Van to win inside the distance at 2.65 the preferred bet.