Van and Pantoja set for long-awaited rematch at UFC 331 in Los Angeles
Champion Joshua Van attempts to remove any lingering doubt surrounding his reign, while former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja returns determined to reclaim a championship he never lost in conventional fashion. Van captured the title at UFC 323 in December when Pantoja suffered a severe arm and elbow injury only 26 seconds into the opening round. The injury occurred after Pantoja caught a kick but landed awkwardly while attempting to brace his fall.
Van was awarded a technical knockout, but the abbreviated fight revealed little about how the two compare over a full championship contest. That uncertainty creates Saturday’s central question: Can Van defeat Pantoja decisively?
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