The MMA community has responded enthusiastically to the intense five-round fight between UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja.
In the UFC 331 main event tonight, the two athletes faced off again after nine months, with Van confirming that his UFC 323 title victory was well-earned and not a fluke.
“The Fearless” sharpened his takedown defense, successfully thwarting numerous attempts by Pantoja.
Throughout the five rounds, Van and Pantoja exchanged relentless strikes, with Van emerging as the more accurate and effective striker. Despite Pantoja controlling much of the fight’s rhythm, Van remained in a peak performance state, landing cleaner hits.
In the final round, the 24-year-old champion knocked “The Cannibal” down, inflicted visible damage, and attempted a submission. Still, after an exhausting 25 minutes of nonstop action, neither competitor managed to finish the other.
Van maintained his lead on the judges’ scorecards and secured a unanimous decision victory, marking his second consecutive successful defense of the UFC flyweight belt.
Arnold Allen expressed his admiration for the event’s headline fight via X (formerly Twitter):
“What a fight, What a card, What a fu*king sport #UFC331”
Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo commented:
“Van looked very sharp in the final round; he did more than enough to take that one.”
Julianna Pena added her praise:
“What a fight! #ufc331 #vanvspantoja”
Ben Askren remarked:
“Wow!!! What a fight, Joshua Van is really impressive. He could be the champ for a while 👊👊”
Paulo Costa shared his thoughts:
“Crazy pantoja looks like bar brawler. Van is outboxing.”
Here are some additional reactions from the MMA world:
“50-45 is crazy but that was a great fight, Van vs Kape is gonna be all hands” — Belal Muhammad
“Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja via UD (49-46, 48-47, 50-45). Van keeps improving — another huge performance. Hard not to be impressed.” — Ariel Helwani
“Shit nevermind the UFC had a pre-written rigged scorecard saying 50-45 Van. What a way to tarnish the back and forth war and show UFC’s agenda. Pantoja needed a finish or they would’ve screwed him. Amazing fight #UFC331” — THE MMA GURU
“Muito bom ver a luta do Pantoja vs Van, claramente os dois são o mais alto nivel da divisão 🔥” — Jean “Lord” Silva
Fan Take: This thrilling rematch between Van and Pantoja highlights the elite talent and excitement within the flyweight division, showing that skill and heart can produce unforgettable battles. For fight fans, it signals a bright future full of high-level competition that keeps the UFC flyweight scene intriguing and dynamic.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
