Joshua Van has retained his UFC flyweight title, securing a commanding victory over Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch at UFC 331 in Los Angeles. The 24-year-old from Myanmar, who is the first UFC champion born in the 2000s, previously defeated Pantoja in December 2025.
Van's latest win extends his professional MMA record to 18 wins and two losses. After the fight, he stated, "A lot of people said that was an accidental win, well, doubt me now."
The fight saw Pantoja take Van down in the first round, followed by heavy punches and knees. Van retaliated with an elbow. Van then used left-handed jabs in the second round and a combination of punches in the third. Pantoja controlled the fourth round with a takedown but could not secure a submission. In the final round, Van knocked Pantoja down with an overhand right, securing the win on the judges' scorecards.
On the same night, Scottish fighter Casey O'Neill also achieved a victory, beating Eduarda Moura via armbar submission.