The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is happening live tonight (Saturday, September 19, 2026) with UFC 331 set to take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The event will be streamed exclusively on Paramount+. The highlight of the evening is a UFC Flyweight title rematch between reigning champion Joshua Van and former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja.
UFC 331 Preview
Joshua Van will defend his UFC Flyweight belt for the second time tonight against Alexandre Pantoja, who previously held the title. Van initially claimed the championship after Pantoja suffered an arm injury early in their first meeting last year. Since winning the belt, Van cemented his status by defeating Tatsuro Taira in one of the year’s standout bouts. Pantoja returns to the octagon tonight for the first time since his injury.
The co-main event is a five-round non-title Lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy, with the winner potentially earning a shot at Justin Gaethje’s title. For Tsarukyan, this could be his second opportunity at a title, counting a previous canceled fight against Islam Makhachev due to a back injury. Meanwhile, Ruffy is nearing a title shot for the first time, and a victory following his impressive win over Michael Chandler would make a major statement.
Other key matchups on the main card include Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo Ho Choi, Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski, and Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf. This fight marks the final bout on Patricio Pitbull’s current UFC contract. Notably, Iwo Baraniewski has been thrilling fans with electrifying wins so far, and Steveson is once again one of the biggest favorites in MMA betting despite being only 4-0 as a pro.
The featured prelims have Marlon Vera facing Charles Jourdain in a Bantamweight bout. This section of the card also includes fights like Robelis Despaigne vs. Tai Tuivasa, Michael Aswell vs. Joo Sang Yoo, and Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz.
Kicking off the early prelims will be Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito, alongside bouts like Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura and Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira.
UFC 331 Schedule
- Late Prelims start at 7 p.m. ET
- Main Card goes live at 9 p.m. ET
- A live blog begins at 5:30 p.m. ET, before the first fight, where fans can join the conversation.
Quick Results from UFC 331
Main Card:
- 125 lbs: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
- 155 lbs: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
- 145 lbs: Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo Ho Choi
- 205 lbs: Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
- 265 lbs: Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
Late Prelims:
- 135 lbs: Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain
- 265 lbs: Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne
- 145 lbs: Michael Aswell vs. Joo Sang Yoo
- 185 lbs: Ryan Gandra defeated Ozzy Diaz via TKO (punches) at 2:04 in round 1
Early Prelims:
- 185 lbs: Edmen Shahbazyan defeated Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
- 125 lbs: Casey O’Neill defeated Eduarda Moura by submission (armbar) at 3:22 in round 1
- 145 lbs: Joanderson Brito defeated Giga Chikadze via KO (hammerfists) at 0:57 in round 1
UFC 331 Play-by-Play Highlights
Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz: Gandra took a moment to assess, then overwhelmed Diaz with a barrage of punches, scoring a swift TKO along the fence.
Official result: Ryan Gandra won by TKO (punches), round 1 at 2:04.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira: Ferreira stayed calm until late but Shahbazyan’s consistent calf kicks kept him at bay. Ferreira’s late aggression wasn’t enough.
Official result: Shahbazyan won by unanimous decision.
Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura: O’Neill was taken down early but remained composed, reversing positions and forcing Moura to tap out to an armbar.
Official result: O’Neill won by submission (armbar), round 1 at 3:22.
Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito: Chikadze started strong but slipped, allowing Brito to take control and land decisive hammerfists for a quick KO.
Official result: Brito won by KO (hammerfists), round 1 at 0:57.
Fan Take:
This UFC 331 event is a must-watch for fight enthusiasts because it features pivotal matchups that could redefine the flyweight and lightweight divisions’ future. The return of Pantoja and the fast-tracking Lightweight clash highlight UFC’s mix of resilience and high-stakes competition, which keeps the sport dynamic and exhilarating for fans worldwide.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
