The flyweight title rematch at UFC 331 now comes with a clear outcome prediction from champion Joshua Van, who says he will finish Alexandre Pantoja inside three rounds this Saturday in Los Angeles. That assertion raises the stakes for a bout that began and ended in controversy the first time the two met.
Their initial meeting at UFC 323 ended after just 20 seconds when Pantoja went down injured and the contest was stopped, leaving Van with the belt. Since then Van made a successful defence against Tatsuro Taira earlier this year, and the promoter elevated the rematch to headline status, citing the built-in storyline.
Van, 24, has doubled down on his aggressive reputation ahead of the second title defence. "You guys are gonna see what I do to this boy come Saturday," he told Main Event TV. "I'm definitely gonna finish him inside three rounds so you guys will see." He added he will hunt either a submission or knockout, but that he is "leaning towards a knockout."
The champion will also debut custom fight shorts that display his Burmese heritage, including the Myanmar flag and a hornbill motif drawn from indigenous symbolism. The promotion has offered custom kit to a number of fighters on the card, and Pantoja will wear the custom shorts he first showed at UFC 317 during his title defence against Kai Kara-France.
Van’s promise of a decisive finish reframes what the rematch means for both men. A clear stoppage would remove the unanswered questions left by the premature end at UFC 323, while a close decision would revive the debate over who controls the division. For fans and the promotion, Van’s confident prediction guarantees heightened attention to the main event this weekend.
The fight will settle the rivalry in the Octagon on Saturday; whether Van’s forecast proves accurate will be determined inside the cage in Los Angeles.