Van vs Pantoja 2 – Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja finally get the chance to answer the biggest question left hanging over their first meeting.
The two flyweights are set to headline UFC 331 on Saturday, with Van defending the title against the former champion. Their first encounter at UFC 323 lasted only 26 seconds, ending when Pantoja suffered an arm injury during an early scramble. Van was awarded the victory and became champion, but the bizarre ending left the actual matchup almost entirely unresolved.
This time, there should be no unanswered questions. Van enters the rematch as a champion who has already completed one successful defense, while Pantoja returns determined to reclaim the belt he never felt he truly lost.
Van vs Pantoja 2: Tale of the Tape
| Joshua Van | Alexandre Pantoja | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 17-2-0 | 30-6-0 |
| Age | 24 | 36 |
| Height | 5’5″ | 5’5″ |
| Reach | 65″ | 67.5″ |
| Division | Flyweight | Flyweight |
| Position | UFC Champion | Former UFC Champion |
The numbers underline the contrast between the two fighters. Van is the younger, faster-rising champion, while Pantoja brings considerably more experience and a long history of competing against elite flyweights.
Van’s striking could decide the fight
Van’s biggest advantage is likely to be his ability to dictate the fight at range. The 24-year-old has developed into a high-output striker who can maintain a relentless pace while mixing combinations to the head and body. His confidence also received a major boost in his most recent outing, when he stopped Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round to successfully defend the championship.
That performance is particularly important heading into this rematch. Van has now experienced five-round championship pressure and demonstrated that his pace does not necessarily disappear as the fight progresses. Against Pantoja, however, he will have to be careful about throwing combinations without protecting himself from the Brazilian’s entries.
Pantoja’s path is through grappling
Pantoja has a very different route to victory. The former champion is one of the division’s most accomplished submission specialists, with 12 career submission victories according to UFC’s statistics. He also built his championship run around pressure, grappling exchanges and his ability to capitalize when opponents make mistakes.
Pantoja’s objective should therefore be relatively straightforward: close the distance, force Van into extended grappling exchanges and make the younger champion work.
Recent statistical comparisons put Pantoja’s takedown rate at around 2.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, while Van’s takedown defense is listed around the mid-70% range by current sources. That makes the opening minutes especially intriguing. If Pantoja can repeatedly get Van against the fence and force him to defend takedowns, the champion’s striking advantage becomes much harder to exploit.
The biggest question: Can Van stay off the mat?
This could ultimately be the deciding factor. Van has shown improvements in his defensive wrestling, but Pantoja represents a considerably different challenge from most of his previous opponents. The Brazilian is dangerous not simply because of his first takedown attempt, but because he can chain together attempts, transitions and submissions.
Van therefore cannot afford to treat every takedown defense as a successful escape. He needs to create separation and return the fight to the center of the Octagon. For Pantoja, meanwhile, simply securing a takedown won’t necessarily be enough. He needs to turn those moments into extended control or submission opportunities.
The age factor
There is also a significant age gap. Van is 24, while Pantoja is 36.
That does not automatically determine the outcome, particularly given Pantoja’s championship experience. But over 25 minutes, Van’s youth and ability to maintain a high pace could become increasingly important. Pantoja’s experience, on the other hand, could help him manage the difficult moments and avoid being dragged into a purely striking battle.
Prediction
This is a much harder fight to predict than the first meeting because the first contest gave us virtually no meaningful sample of their respective game plans. Van has the momentum of a successful title defense against Taira, while Pantoja has the experience of having already held and defended the UFC flyweight championship multiple times. UFC’s preview notes that Pantoja entered the first meeting on an eight-fight winning streak and had successfully defended his title four times.
My pick: Joshua Van via decision.
I expect Pantoja to have his best moments when he can close the distance and force grappling exchanges. However, Van’s movement, striking volume and ability to keep the fight standing could allow him to accumulate enough rounds over 25 minutes. The key for Van will be discipline. If he stays mobile, avoids prolonged fence exchanges and forces Pantoja to chase him, his striking should have more opportunities to dictate the fight. Pantoja’s clearest route is to make the contest ugly early, repeatedly close the distance and turn it into a grappling-heavy battle.
Final prediction
Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja via unanimous decision
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