Joshua Van won the UFC featherweight title in December almost by default.
Alexandre Pantoja, then the reigning champion, suffered an injury to his arm and shoulder that ended the fight 26 seconds after it started.
There is only one proper way to handle the situation.
Rematch.
Van, 24, and Pantoja, 36, will face off again in the main event of UFC 331 Saturday, Sept 19.
In May, making his first title defense, Van looked like a worthy champion. He ended a rugged bout against Tatsuro Taira by fifth-round TKO.
But Pantoja looked like the rightful champion before he suffered that injury. It took place after Van caught a high kick from Pantoja and forced back Pantoja, who injured himself while bracing his fall.
Pantoja, who won the featherweight title in
2023, had entered the fight having defended the belt four straight times.
Here is how to watch the action Saturday at UFC 331 with full card odds.
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja: How to watch UFC 331
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 26
- Where: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles
- Time: 9 p.m. ET, main card / 7 p.m. ET, prelims / 5:30 p.m. ET early prelims.
- Streaming: Paramount+ (Monthly subscription required.)
Watch UFC 331 with Paramount+
Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja: UFC 331 full card
Odds via BetMGM(Monday, Sept. 14)
- Joshua Van (-135) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (+110), flyweight title bout
- Arman Tsarukyan (-350) vs. Maurcio Ruffy (+275), lightweight
- Patricio Pitbull (+200) vs. Dooho Choi (-250), featherweight
- Alonzo Menifield (+220) vs. Iwo Baraniewski (-275), light heavyweight
- Brian Ortega vs. Renato Moicano - fight canceled
Prelims
- Gable Steveson (-2000) vs. Sean Sharaf (+950), heavyweight
- Marlon Vera (+200) vs. Charles Jourdain (-250), bantamweight
- Tai Tuivasa (+475) vs. Robelis Despaigne (-650), heavyweight
- Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joosang Yoo, featherweight (unavailable)
Early prelims
- Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz, middleweight (unavailable)
- Edmen Shahbazyan (-165) vs. Brunno Ferreira (+135), middleweight
- Casey O’Neill (-185) vs. Eduarda Moura (+150), women’s flyweight
- Giga Chikadze (+310) vs. Joanderson Brito (-400), featherweight
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UFC 331 full card odds and how to watch Van vs Pantoja rematch fight
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