UFC 331 brings a flyweight championship rematch to Los Angeles on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as Joshua Van defends his title against former champion Alexandre Pantoja.
The event takes place at Crypto.com Arena and features a card extending well beyond the championship main event.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event, while Patricio Pitbull meets Dooho Choi at featherweight. The card also includes heavyweight, light heavyweight and bantamweight matchups.
For viewers in the United States, the main card is scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on Paramount+.
Here is a closer look at the UFC 331 fight card, start times, main event and viewing information.
UFC 331 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 |
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Venue | Crypto.com Arena |
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
| Main Event | Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja |
| Championship | UFC Flyweight Title |
| Early Prelims | 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT |
| Prelims | 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT |
| Main Card | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT |
| U.S. Main Card | Paramount+ |
Fight cards can change because of injuries, medical issues, weigh-in results or other circumstances. Fans should check the UFC’s official event information close to fight time.
When Is UFC 331?
UFC 331 takes place Saturday, September 19, 2026.
The event is being held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
The UFC is returning to the arena with a numbered event built around the flyweight championship rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.
The first fights are scheduled for the afternoon in Los Angeles, while the main card begins during the evening.
What Time Does UFC 331 Start?
UFC 331 is divided into three portions.
Early Prelims
The Early Prelims are scheduled to begin at:
5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
Prelims
The preliminary card is scheduled for:
7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
Main Card
The UFC 331 main card begins at:
9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
These times are particularly important for viewers accustomed to later start times for some previous numbered UFC events.
Fight-night schedules can still change, so viewers should confirm the current listing before the event begins.
UFC 331 Main Card
The currently announced main card includes:
| Fight | Division |
|---|---|
| Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja | Flyweight Championship |
| Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy | Lightweight |
| Patricio Pitbull vs Dooho Choi | Featherweight |
| Alonzo Menifield vs Iwo Baraniewski | Light Heavyweight |
| Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf | Heavyweight |
The championship fight between Van and Pantoja headlines the event.
Tsarukyan and Ruffy occupy an important position immediately below the main event, while the rest of the card provides a mix of established fighters and developing names.
Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja meet again with the UFC flyweight championship at stake.
Their first meeting came at UFC 323 in December 2025.
That fight ended almost immediately after Pantoja suffered an elbow injury early in the opening round.
Van became champion, but the unusual ending meant the matchup did not provide much opportunity to see how their skills compared over a normal fight.
That is one reason the rematch carries additional interest.
This time, Van enters as the defending champion.
Pantoja enters as the former champion attempting to regain the title.
What Happened in the First Van vs Pantoja Fight?
The first fight lasted less than half a minute.
Pantoja suffered an injury to his elbow shortly after the contest began, bringing the championship fight to an abrupt conclusion.
Because the ending came so early, the first meeting offered very little evidence about how a longer fight between them might develop.
The rematch therefore starts with many of the same competitive questions that existed before their original meeting.
However, the circumstances surrounding the fighters have changed.
Van now has experience competing as UFC champion, while Pantoja is returning from the injury that ended their first fight.
Joshua Van Enters as Flyweight Champion
Van did not simply win the championship and wait for the rematch.
He successfully defended the flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 in May 2026.
Van earned a fifth-round TKO victory in that fight.
Going through a five-round championship contest provides a very different experience from the brief first meeting with Pantoja.
Van has therefore had an opportunity to compete through adversity and late rounds since becoming champion.
At UFC 331, he attempts another title defense against the man who held the championship before him.
Alexandre Pantoja Tries to Regain the Championship
Before losing the title because of the injury in his first fight with Van, Pantoja had established himself at the top of the UFC flyweight division.
His championship run included successful title defenses against multiple challengers.
UFC 331 gives him the opportunity to regain the belt.
The major question is not simply what happened in the first fight.
It is how Pantoja performs after the injury and layoff against a champion who has continued competing and developing.
The answer will come inside the Octagon rather than through predictions based on their previous meeting.
Why the Rematch Is Different
The circumstances have changed considerably since Van and Pantoja first fought.
Van now enters second as the champion rather than the challenger.
He has also completed another championship fight since their first meeting.
Pantoja, meanwhile, has had to recover from injury before returning to competition.
That makes UFC 331 more than a simple repeat of UFC 323.
Both fighters arrive with different experiences and different questions surrounding them.
Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy
The co-main event features Arman Tsarukyan against Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight bout.
Tsarukyan enters as one of the division’s highly ranked contenders.
Ruffy gets an opportunity to test himself against an established opponent near the top of the lightweight picture.
The matchup is scheduled for five rounds.
That distinction matters because most non-title UFC bouts are scheduled for three.
A five-round co-main event can require different pacing and preparation if the fight goes deep.
The result could also have implications for how both fighters are positioned within the lightweight division after UFC 331.
Patricio Pitbull vs Dooho Choi
Patricio Pitbull faces Dooho Choi in a featherweight matchup on the main card.
Pitbull brings extensive experience from a long career in mixed martial arts.
Choi has built his own following through an aggressive fighting style and memorable UFC appearances.
The matchup offers a contrast between two experienced featherweights with different career paths.
As with any fight, previous accomplishments do not guarantee what will happen on September 19.
Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf
Gable Steveson faces Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight bout.
Steveson’s background makes his development in MMA particularly interesting.
Before entering mixed martial arts, he established himself as an elite wrestler.
High-level wrestling can provide a strong foundation for MMA, but success in one combat sport does not automatically translate into complete mixed martial arts ability.
Striking, submissions, cage positioning and adapting to MMA rules all add different requirements.
UFC 331 provides another opportunity to evaluate Steveson’s development inside the Octagon.
Alonzo Menifield vs Iwo Baraniewski
Alonzo Menifield meets Iwo Baraniewski in a light heavyweight contest.
The fight adds another weight class to a main card that ranges from flyweight to heavyweight.
Light heavyweight fights can change quickly because of the combination of size, power and athleticism found in the division.
Rather than assuming how the matchup will unfold, viewers can watch how each fighter manages distance and attempts to establish control.
UFC 331 Prelims
The currently announced preliminary card includes:
- Marlon “Chito” Vera vs Charles Jourdain
- Tai Tuivasa vs Robelis Despaigne
- Michael Aswell Jr. vs Joosang Yoo
The prelims begin at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT.
These fights take place before the five-fight main card.
Marlon Vera vs Charles Jourdain
Marlon “Chito” Vera faces Charles Jourdain in one of the most recognizable matchups on the preliminary card.
Both fighters have considerable UFC experience.
The placement of experienced athletes on the prelims is another reason viewers interested in the full event may want to follow more than just the main card.
The bout also gives each fighter an opportunity to improve his position following previous results.
Tai Tuivasa vs Robelis Despaigne
Heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Robelis Despaigne are scheduled to meet on the preliminary card.
Heavyweight MMA often attracts attention because a single clean strike can dramatically change a fight.
That does not mean every heavyweight contest will end quickly.
Wrestling, clinch work, conditioning and defensive choices can become equally important if the bout extends beyond the opening exchanges.
UFC 331 Early Prelims
The announced Early Prelims include:
- Ryan Gandra vs Ozzy Diaz
- Edmen Shahbazyan vs Brunno Ferreira
- Casey O’Neill vs Eduarda Moura
- Giga Chikadze vs Joanderson Brito
The Early Prelims are scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT.
The lineup gives fans several additional fights before the regular prelims and main card begin.
UFC 331 Card Changed During Fight Week
Fight cards should always be treated as subject to change.
That became relevant for UFC 331 during fight week.
Brian Ortega had been scheduled to face Renato Moicano in a lightweight bout.
The UFC announced on September 14 that Ortega was injured and the bout was removed from UFC 331.
Moicano was subsequently moved to a different event rather than remaining on the September 19 card.
This is a useful example of why an older UFC 331 fight-card graphic or article may no longer show the current lineup.
Fans should use the latest official information when checking the card.
Where to Watch UFC 331 in the United States
UFC 331 is available on Paramount+ in the United States.
The current schedule lists:
Early Prelims: 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT — Paramount+ and UFC Fight Pass
Prelims: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT — Paramount+
Main Card: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT — Paramount+
Availability, subscription requirements and platform details can change.
Viewers should check the official service before the event rather than relying on an old listing.
Watching UFC 331 Outside the United States
UFC broadcast rights differ by country and territory.
Paramount+ information for the United States should not automatically be assumed to apply internationally.
Depending on the location, UFC events may be available through a regional broadcaster, streaming service or UFC Fight Pass.
Fans outside the United States should check the UFC’s official viewing information for their country.
UFC 331 Start Time in Other Time Zones
Because the event takes place in Los Angeles, international viewers should pay close attention to time-zone conversion.
The main card begins at 9:00 PM Eastern Time and 6:00 PM Pacific Time on Saturday, September 19.
In some countries, that means the main card takes place during the early hours of Sunday, September 20.
The calendar date can therefore be different depending on where the viewer is located.
Always confirm the local date as well as the local start time.
Why Fight Cards Can Change
UFC cards are announced in advance, but they are not guaranteed to remain unchanged.
A fight can be removed or altered because of:
- Injury
- Illness
- Medical clearance
- Weight-cutting problems
- Visa or travel issues
- Fighter withdrawal
- Athletic commission decisions
- Other unexpected circumstances
Replacement opponents can sometimes be arranged.
In other situations, a fight may be removed entirely.
For that reason, Sportsurge Online treats fight-card information as time-sensitive.
What Happens at the UFC 331 Weigh-Ins?
Before fighters can compete, official weigh-ins take place during fight week.
Championship bouts have specific weight requirements, while non-title bouts generally allow the standard UFC allowance permitted for their division.
A fighter missing weight can affect the status of a bout.
Depending on the circumstances, a fight may continue at a catchweight, involve a financial penalty or be canceled.
The final status of every bout should therefore be confirmed after official weigh-ins.
What to Watch at UFC 331
UFC 331 contains several different storylines.
Van’s Second Title Defense
Joshua Van enters as champion after successfully defending the flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira.
Facing Pantoja again provides a very different challenge because of the unusual ending to their first meeting.
Pantoja’s Return
Alexandre Pantoja is returning from the injury suffered at UFC 323.
How he looks after the layoff is one of the major questions surrounding the main event.
Lightweight Stakes
Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy compete in a five-round co-main event.
The lightweight division is traditionally competitive, making fights involving highly positioned contenders particularly relevant.
Experienced Names Across the Card
Patricio Pitbull, Dooho Choi, Marlon Vera and Tai Tuivasa give the event recognizable names outside the championship fight.
Developing Fighters
UFC cards are not only about established stars.
Several fighters on UFC 331 are still building their UFC careers, making the event an opportunity for viewers to see athletes at different stages of development.
Avoid Treating Predictions as Results
Fight previews often include opinions about which athlete may have an advantage.
Those opinions should not be confused with confirmed outcomes.
Mixed martial arts can change quickly through a strike, takedown, submission, injury or judging decision.
Records and rankings provide useful background, but they do not determine the result of an upcoming fight.
Sportsurge Online focuses on confirmed event information and relevant matchup context rather than presenting predictions as facts.
UFC 331 FAQ
When is UFC 331?
UFC 331 takes place Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Where is UFC 331 being held?
The event takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Who is fighting in the UFC 331 main event?
UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van faces former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a championship rematch.
What time does the UFC 331 main card start?
The main card is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT.
What time do the UFC 331 prelims start?
The prelims begin at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT.
What time do the UFC 331 Early Prelims start?
The latest UFC viewing schedule lists the Early Prelims for 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT.
Where can UFC 331 be watched in the United States?
The event is scheduled to stream on Paramount+ in the United States. The Early Prelims are also listed on UFC Fight Pass.
Who is fighting in the UFC 331 co-main event?
Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round lightweight bout.
Is Brian Ortega fighting at UFC 331?
No. Ortega’s scheduled fight with Renato Moicano was removed after the UFC announced that Ortega was injured.
Is UFC 331 pay-per-view in the United States?
The UFC’s current official viewing information lists UFC 331 on Paramount+ in the United States. Viewers should check the service directly for current subscription and access requirements.
Does Sportsurge Online stream UFC 331?
No. Sportsurge Online provides independent sports schedules, previews, results and viewing information. It does not host unauthorized UFC streams.
Following UFC 331
UFC 331 brings a championship rematch to Los Angeles with considerably different circumstances from the first Van-Pantoja meeting.
Joshua Van enters Crypto.com Arena as the defending flyweight champion after completing a successful title defense earlier in 2026.
Alexandre Pantoja returns looking to regain the championship after an injury ended their first fight before it had an opportunity to develop.
The event also includes a five-round lightweight co-main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy, experienced fighters across several divisions and a full slate of prelims and Early Prelims.
Because UFC cards can change even during fight week, viewers should confirm the final lineup and start times through official UFC information before the first fight begins.
Sportsurge Online will continue covering major combat-sports schedules, event guides and results as they are confirmed.