UFC 331 Stars: What's Next?
UFC 331 took place in Los Angeles, California, featuring a main event flyweight title rematch between champion Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja. The co-main event saw Arman Tsarukyan face Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight bout.
Van was defending his belt for the first time after defeating Tatsuro Taira. Pantoja sought to regain the title he lost to Van due to an arm injury sustained early in their previous fight.
Van secured a decision win, retaining his flyweight championship. Tsarukyan delivered a decisive first-round knockout with an elbow strike. Following UFC 331, here are potential next steps for the event's featured fighters.
Joshua Van
Joshua Van successfully defended his flyweight title in an engaging fight against Pantoja. His previous title win against Pantoja, stemming from an injury, led some to question his championship status. However, Van silenced doubters with a strong performance.
This victory solidifies Van as the legitimate champion. His next opponent should be Manel Kape for an exciting striking match, potentially in early 2027.
Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre Pantoja failed to reclaim the flyweight title at UFC 331, struggling with Van's boxing and his own grappling effectiveness on the ground.
The loss places Pantoja, now 36, at a crossroads regarding his contention status. A logical next fight is against Asu Almabayev. Almabayev warrants a top-ranked opponent, while Pantoja needs to prove himself against a fighter ranked below him. The winner of this potential matchup would be close to a title shot.
Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan secured a significant knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy, reinforcing his position as the top contender. Despite an early eye injury from Ruffy's strikes, Tsarukyan landed a decisive blow for the victory.
With this win, Tsarukyan is in line for a title shot. The question remains who his opponent will be. If Justin Gaethje retires, a vacant title fight between Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria is the most logical outcome. If Gaethje fights again, that bout could occur in early 2027.
Mauricio Ruffy
Mauricio Ruffy had an opportunity to establish himself as a top contender but was knocked out by Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331. Following this loss, Ruffy needs a significant break, likely not returning until late Q1 or early Q2 of 2027. By then, the division may have shifted, but a fight against Mateusz Gamrot would be a suitable matchup.
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