Crypto.com UFC 331 takes place Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Early prelims begin at 5:30 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass and Paramount+, the prelims air at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+, and the main card starts at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+ PPV. The card features 12 fights across three tiers, including a flyweight title rematch and a lightweight bout that could reshape the division’s contender picture.
Joshua Van (17-2) defends the UFC flyweight title for the first time against former champion Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) in a rematch that carries significant unresolved questions. Van won the belt at UFC 323 when Pantoja suffered a catastrophic elbow injury during a first-round scramble, forcing the stoppage in one of the more unusual title changes in recent memory. At 24, Van became the second-youngest UFC champion in history, behind only Jon Jones, but many observers have called for a clean fight to determine who truly belongs at the top of the division. Pantoja, 35, was a multiple-defense champion and widely considered among the best flyweights in history before the injury, and this rematch is his opportunity to reclaim a title he never lost by submission or knockout. The co-main event pairs No. 7-ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) against No. 2-ranked Mauricio Ruffy (14-2) in a fight with direct title implications at 155 pounds.
The undercard features several compelling matchups, including Georgian featherweight Giga Chikadze facing Joanderson Brito in the early prelims, Casey O’Neill and Eduarda Moura in a women’s flyweight bout, and former Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull squaring off with Korean striker Doo Ho Choi on the main card. Undefeated Polish light heavyweight Iwo Baraniewski takes on Alonzo Menifield in a matchup between an experienced UFC veteran and a perfect prospect, while 2020 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson looks to extend his unbeaten streak. Results update below as each fight concludes.
Main Card
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Flyweight Championship — Main Event
Joshua Van (17-2) puts the UFC flyweight title on the line against former champion Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) in the main event rematch. Van, 24, claimed the belt at UFC 323 in March 2026 when Pantoja hyperextended his elbow during a takedown scramble, stopping the fight before either man could determine a winner on the feet or on the canvas. The controversial finish left the division without a clean resolution, and Van has spent the months since insisting he is a legitimate champion and more than capable of defending it over a full five rounds. Pantoja, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who defended the title three times between 2023 and early 2026, brings the wider grappling repertoire and the longer championship resume into this fight. The flyweight division’s best has never been fully settled, and this rematch at Crypto.com Arena gives both men the chance to end the debate. Result pending.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Lightweight — Co-Main Event
Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) meets Mauricio Ruffy (14-2) in the lightweight co-main event, with both men ranked in the top 10 and a title shot likely waiting for the winner. Tsarukyan, an Armenian fighter based out of Russia, has been one of the most consistent top-level lightweights in the UFC since defeating former champion Beneil Dariush, and his wrestling base combined with heavy striking has made him a difficult puzzle for any opponent. His three losses came against elite competition, and he has rebounded each time with multiple victories. Ruffy, a Brazilian submission specialist, announced himself to the division with a stunning first-round guillotine choke in his UFC debut and has continued adding wins, currently ranked No. 2 in the division. This is a significant step up in competition for Ruffy, and a statement performance here would force the UFC’s hand on a title shot. Result pending.
Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo Ho Choi
Featherweight — Main Card
Patricio Pitbull (37-9) vs. Doo Ho Choi (17-4-1) in a featherweight main card bout between two veteran strikers with proven finishing ability. Pitbull, from Natal, Brazil, was the face of Bellator’s featherweight division for nearly a decade, winning the title multiple times and defeating a long list of top contenders before the organization was acquired and its fighters migrated to the UFC. His UFC run has had mixed results as he works to establish himself in the world’s deepest featherweight pool. Choi, the Korean striker known as "The Korean Superboy," burst onto the UFC scene with knockout victories over Cub Swanson and a memorable fight of the night against Jeremy Stephens before a period of setbacks. A win here for either man keeps them in the upper half of a crowded featherweight picture. Result pending.
Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
Heavyweight — Main Card
Gable Steveson (4-0) vs. Sean Sharaf (4-2) in a heavyweight main card bout. Steveson is a 2020 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at 125 kilograms and a two-time NCAA Division I national champion at the University of Minnesota, widely considered one of the most accomplished amateur wrestlers to ever enter MMA. He signed with the UFC in April 2026, debuted at UFC 329, and has finished all four of his professional opponents by knockout or technical knockout in the opening round, converting his elite wrestling base into a ground-and-pound game that has not yet been tested past the first five minutes. Sharaf, an Ohio-based heavyweight at 4-2, offers a significant step up from Steveson’s previous competition in terms of UFC experience, having gone through his own up-and-down run inside the Octagon. Result pending.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
Light Heavyweight — Main Card
Alonzo Menifield (18-6-1) vs. Iwo Baraniewski (9-0) opens the main card in a light heavyweight matchup between a UFC veteran and an unbeaten Polish prospect. Menifield, from Dallas, has spent several years on the UFC roster, earning a reputation for first-round knockout power and a record that has bounced between ranked and fringe contention depending on the opponent. He has faced several ranked light heavyweights and carries the experience advantage into this fight. Baraniewski, nicknamed "Rudy," comes in undefeated across nine professional fights and has been building toward a UFC debut that could announce him as a serious presence at 205 pounds. A win for Baraniewski would represent a statement against established UFC competition; for Menifield, it is an opportunity to reassert himself against a rising name. Result pending.
Prelims
Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain
Bantamweight — Prelims
Marlon Vera (23-12-1) vs. Charles Jourdain (18-8-1) leads the prelims in a bantamweight bout between two fighters with a long history of producing entertaining, back-and-forth performances. Vera, the Ecuadorian veteran known as "Chito," has been one of the UFC’s most durable and technically sound bantamweights for nearly a decade, racking up wins over Sean O’Malley and Rob Font among others while mixing in close decisions that could have gone either way. At 23-12-1, he remains a credible threat to any opponent in the division. Jourdain, the Canadian brawler who has competed at both featherweight and bantamweight, brings a record of 18-8-1 and a style that tends to produce action regardless of opponent. This is the kind of prelim fight that can steal the show. Result pending.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne
Heavyweight — Prelims
Tai Tuivasa (14-10) vs. Robelis Despaigne (6-2) in a heavyweight prelim pairing a fan-favorite brawler with an elite amateur boxing background. Tuivasa, the Australian heavyweight known as "Bam Bam," built a significant following during a run of knockout victories that placed him in the top 10 at heavyweight before a string of losses against elite competition. At 14-10, he brings genuine knockout threat in both hands and has shown throughout his career that any heavyweight bout he enters can end at any moment. Despaigne, from Cuba, is a former World Amateur Boxing Championship gold medalist who transitioned to MMA and has steadily built a 6-2 professional record. His amateur boxing pedigree makes him a credible threat on the feet, and this fight sets two power punchers against each other. Result pending.
Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joo Sang Yoo
Featherweight — Prelims
Michael Aswell Jr. (11-5) vs. Joo Sang Yoo (9-1) in a featherweight prelim between two fighters aiming to establish footholds in the UFC’s stacked 145-pound division. Aswell, the American featherweight, has gone 11-5 across his career and brings the experience of navigating a competitive domestic circuit before landing on the UFC roster. His most recent UFC appearances have given him a chance to show what he can do against varying styles. Yoo, the South Korean featherweight, carries a 9-1 record and represents a strong Korean MMA contingent that has produced legitimate UFC contenders. His single professional loss came in a competitive fight, and he has otherwise been consistent in finishing or outworking his opponents. A win here for either man is a meaningful step in building a UFC career. Result pending.
Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz
Middleweight — Prelims
Ryan Gandra (10-1) vs. Ozzy Diaz (10-4) in a middleweight prelim. Gandra, the Brazilian middleweight nicknamed "O Problema," has gone 10-1 in his professional career and has specifically targeted performance bonuses in his UFC appearances, earning a reputation as a fighter who actively seeks the finish rather than grind out decisions. His single career loss has not slowed his momentum, and he enters this fight in strong form. Diaz, at 10-4, has faced mixed results at the professional level but brings enough experience to push Gandra at 185 pounds. Gandra is a KO artist who has spoken publicly about wanting a bonus at UFC 331, which is a consistent thread through his UFC run. Result pending.
Early Prelims
Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito
Featherweight — Early Prelims
Giga Chikadze (15-6) vs. Joanderson Brito (19-5-1) closes the early prelims in a featherweight bout between two fighters with legitimate finishing credentials. Chikadze, the Georgian kickboxer known for precise technique and switch-kick combinations, entered the UFC on a long winning streak and had the division’s attention before dropping a decision to Bryce Mitchell. His 15-6 record reflects a career built in elite European kickboxing organizations before transitioning to MMA, and his striking remains elite at the featherweight level. Brito, the Brazilian featherweight with a 19-5-1 record, has been active and dangerous throughout his career, mixing grappling transitions with forward pressure to wear down opponents. This is a stylistic contrast between Chikadze’s range-based striking and Brito’s inside game. Result pending.
Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura
Women’s Flyweight — Early Prelims
Casey O’Neill (11-2) vs. Eduarda Moura (12-2) in a women’s flyweight early prelim. O’Neill, the Scottish-Australian fighter known as "King Casey," built her reputation as a knockout artist before arriving in the UFC, where she has gone on to earn her name at 125 pounds with a mix of striking and grappling ability. Her 11-2 record comes with several finishes and a consistent ability to impose her physical advantages on opponents. Moura, the Brazilian flyweight at 12-2, has been one of the more active and improving fighters in the UFC’s women’s flyweight division, bringing a well-rounded skill set developed through the strong Brazilian MMA infrastructure. Both women are ranked in the division and this bout has implications for where each lands in the flyweight pecking order. Result pending.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira
Middleweight — Early Prelims
Edmen Shahbazyan (16-6) vs. Brunno Ferreira (15-4) opens the early prelims in a middleweight bout between two fighters looking to reestablish consistency in the UFC. Shahbazyan, the Armenian-American middleweight from Glendale, California, was widely considered one of the sport’s brightest prospects between 2018 and 2020, finishing opponents with ease and rising quickly before a knockout loss to Uriah Hall changed the trajectory. He has since gone 12-6 in the UFC, enough to stay relevant at 185 pounds but not enough to recapture the buzz of his early career peak. Ferreira, the Brazilian middleweight nicknamed "The Hulk," brings a 15-4 record and a physical, pressure-forward style that has earned him wins at the UFC level. This is a fight between two middleweights who need momentum, and a finish here for either man would be a significant step forward. Result pending.
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