Van and Pantoja Set for Flyweight Title Rematch at UFC 331
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Defending champion Joshua Van looks to avoid the grappling of Alexandre Pantoja in a high-stakes rematch this Saturday in Los Angeles.
Joshua Van will defend his flyweight championship against challenger Alexandre Pantoja this Saturday in Los Angeles at UFC 331, according to Sportsnet.
Van previously defeated Pantoja last year via an injury stoppage to claim the title. Since then, Van has successfully defended the belt against Tatsuro Taira. Reporting from Sportsnet notes that while Van was taken down eight times in the Taira bout, he remained a threat on the feet. Sportsnet suggests Van's path to victory involves creating prolonged striking exchanges and surviving the first round to build momentum.
Conversely, Pantoja's strategy may mirror his previous performances against Royval, Moreno, and Erceg, where he combined striking volume with potent takedown attempts. Sportsnet reports that Pantoja secured 23 takedowns across those three matchups. Because Van continues to struggle with takedown defense, Sportsnet indicates Pantoja could find a submission on the ground or secure a decision victory by mixing grappling and striking.