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Van won the belt when Pantoja hurt his arm less than 30 seconds into their very first conference. Van is now seeking to utilize the rematch to show he is genuinely the leading pet dog in the department, while Pantoja is fighting to show he still is worthy of the crown.
The co-main occasion might have as much intrigue as the headliners on Saturday. Leading light-weight competitor Arman Tsarukyan makes his go back to the Octagon when he handles increasing competitor Mauricio Ruffy. Tsarukyan was formerly arranged to combat for the light-weight title– likewise in Los Angeles– in January 2025 versus Islam Makhachev. An injury throughout his weight cut required him to withdraw. Now, more than 20 months later on, Tsarukyan thinks a win on Saturday over Ruffy, who has actually won his 2 battles this year in awesome style, will get him the long-awaited chance at gold.
Somewhere else on the card, more fireworks are anticipated when featherweights Dooho Choi and Patricio Pitbull link. Choi is riding a three-fight win streak with all 3 visiting TKO. Pitbull, on the other hand, is thought about amongst the best fighters in Bellator MMA history after holding 2 divisional titles in his famous profession. Plus, Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson seeks to take the next action in his MMA journey when he handles fellow possibility Sean Sharaf. And an interruption is most likely in the primary card opener when Iwo Baraniewski handles Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight brawl.
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UFC 331: Joshua Van, Alexandre Pantoja include an uncommon touch of bad blood to competition in rematch
Brian Campbell
With a lot occurring on Saturday night, let’s look more carefully at the complete battle card with the current chances before we get to our personnel forecasts and choices for the primary card that you can think about in the past striking the sportsbooks.
Sports news UFC 331 battle card, chances
Chances through DraftKings Sportsbook (Odds since Sept. 18)
- Joshua Van (c) -135 vs. Alexandre Pantoja +114, flyweight title
- Arman Tsarukyan -305 vs. Mauricio Ruffy +245, lightweights
- Dooho Choi -285 vs. Patricio Pitbull +215, featherweights
- Gable Steveson -2100 vs. Sean Sharaf +1100, heavyweights
- Iwo Baraniewski -250 vs. Alonzo Menifield +205, Light heavyweights
- Charles Jourdain -205 vs. Marlon Vera +170, bantamweights
- Robelis Despaigne -575 vs. Tai Tuivasa +425, heavyweights
- Joosang Yoo -225 vs. Michael Aswell Jr. +185, featherweights
- Ryan Gandra -550 vs. Ozzy Diaz +410, middleweights
- Edmen Shahbazyan -180 vs. Brunno Ferreira +150, middleweights
- Casey O’Neill -230 vs. Eduarda Moura +190, ladies’s flyweights
- Joanderson Brito -410 vs. Giga Chikadze +320, featherweights
Sports news UFC 331 professional selects
With such an enormous centerpiece on tap, the team at CBS Sports went on with forecasts and choices for the primary card from Brian Campbell, Brent Brookhouse, Shakiel Mahjouri, Michael Mormile and Brandon Wise.
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja forecasts
Campbell:After losing his title due to a dislocated elbow suffered simply 26 seconds into his very first bout with Van last December, the 36-year-old Pantoja has actually constructed rather an outstanding set of chips on his shoulders as he goes into the rematch as a wagering underdog. Yes, the 24-year-old Van revealed extraordinary combating spirit in his very first title defense in May when he made the needed mid-fight modifications to hold back and complete Tatsuro Taira in their five-round war. Pantoja still holds crucial benefits in both general abilities and experience, even if he’s getting a bit long in the tooth. Let’s not forget just how much better Pantoja got as a fighter after winning the flyweight title so late in his UFC run. The Brazilian legend has enough inspiration to sustain Van’s offending storm early and put himself in position to begin a 2nd reign as champ.
Brookhouse:Van’s revealing versus Taira was wonderful and revealed he has the fumbling and grappling abilities to avoid of the worst kinds of threat. Pantoja is a great fighter, however he isn’t most likely to beat Van on the feet. Pantoja is likewise relatively old for the department and returning from injury, so he has a lot working versus him heading into the battle. Van is becoming his area as a really elite fighter, and if he gets his offense going early, it might spell a fast end for Pantoja.
Mahjouri:Van made this analysis much harder after revealing out versus Taira. Sure, Taira took him down, however more significantly, he could not keep him down. Van is young and error-prone, however he’s revealed clever decision-making in working out of bad positions. Pantoja is truly upset heading into the rematch. He’s the second-best flyweight ever, and he didn’t lose the title convincingly, however he’s currently being forgotten. Saturday’s opposition has the grappling, grit and experience to beat the young weapon. Van has the striking, blowing and younger stubbornness to appear and reveal out.
We’ll see the very best variation of Van on Saturday. At finest, we’ll see a variation of Pantoja on par with his previous peak. Where those 2 peaks fulfill is the hard concern to respond to. What I’m particular of is that if Pantoja will ever beat Van, it needs to be this variation of the champ. He can’t pay for more development from Van as Pantoja’s unavoidable decrease starts. It’s a coin toss, however I’m going to strive the stars and forecast a repeat of Conor McGregor’s stunning knockout of Jose Aldo.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy forecasts
Campbell:It took him a long time to get back into title contention after pulling out of a UFC 311 rematch with Islam Makhachev, a clear triumph by interruption must protect Tsarukyan his date with gold. For all of the threat Ruffy gives the table offensively, his fumbling abilities simply aren’t on the exact same level of Tsarukyan, which was evidenced by Ruffy’s dreadful 2025 loss to Benoit Saint Denis. Search for Tsarukyan to utilize his leading position pressure to tire Ruffy in this five-round co-headliner to establish space for the surface.
Brookhouse: Ruffy is a really unsafe striker, however he has shortages in grappling, which is where Tsarukyan excels. Ruffy likes to toss kicks, which can likewise set Tsarukyan up for much easier courses to takedowns. Saint Denis set out the plan for how to rip through Ruffy, however I do not think Tsarukyan provides the very same instant threat in his submission video game that Saint Denis does. Rather of a fast surface, search for Tsarukyan to grind Ruffy down, test his cardio and discover a surface in the 2nd half of the battle.
Mahjouri:I entirely think that Ruffy has actually progressed through training with Alexander Volkanovski. I’m less persuaded Ruffy has actually covered enough ground to beat Tsarukyan. We’re one year gotten rid of from Saint Denis trampling Ruffy on the ground. Tsarukyan is leagues ahead of BSD. He’s removed everybody he’s combated, consisting of Islam Makhachev in Tsarukyan’s UFC launching, other than for individuals Tsarukyan knocked out in one round. Do not get it twisted either; this isn’t as basic as Ruffy warding off takedowns and controling on the feet. Tsarukyan has an excellent chin; he’s never ever been knocked out. Integrate that with strong striking basics, sensible power and elite experience, and he has a lot of tools at his disposal. I believe he completes Ruffy.
Dooho Choi vs. Patricio Pitbull forecasts
Campbell:This one ought to be all gas and no brakes so enjoy it while it lasts. Both featherweights are understood for bringing the heat, with Pitbull’s grappling abilities possibly the only clear benefit. That benefit is balanced out due to the fact that the previous Bellator MMA two-division champ is now 39 and plainly at the tail end of his golden. Couple of fighters can endure within the storm of a firefight rather like Choi, who is riding a sly three-fight win streak and must have sufficient gas left in the tank to get the triumph.
Mahjouri: “The Korean Superboy” discovered his wings. Choi’s run seemed over after 3 straight losses. Now, he’s unbeaten in his last 4 battles with 3 successive TKOs. Bellator legend Pitbull has the tools to win, however his body remains in disarray. Aaron Pico put him through the woodchipper. While I anticipate Pitbull to look excellent in stretches, perhaps even take a round or more, I believe he ultimately catches Choi’s pressure and power.
Who wins Van vs. Pantoja, and how precisely does the battle end? Check out SportsLine now to get in-depth choices and analysis from the unparalleled professional who is up over $21,000 on his UFC selects because May 2018, and learn.
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