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UFC 331

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2
The poster for UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateSeptember 19, 2026 (2026-09-19)
VenueCrypto.com Arena
CityLos Angeles, California, United States
Attendance19,357[1]
Total gate$8,228,105[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Delgado UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 UFC Fight Night: Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos

UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 (branded as Crypto.com UFC 331 for sponsorship reasons) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, United States.[2]

Background

[edit]

The event marked the promotion's sixth visit to Los Angeles and first since UFC 227 in August 2018.[3] Initial reports had speculated that the event may have been held at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, or be part of the promotion's Noche UFC 4 celebration of Mexican Independence Day in Glendale, Arizona.[4][5]

A UFC Flyweight Championship rematch between current champion Joshua Van and former champion Alexandre Pantoja headlined the event.[6] They previously competed in December 2025 at UFC 323, where Van won the belt via technical knockout 26 seconds into the first round as a result of an arm injury sustained by Pantoja.[7]

A five-round lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Maurício Ruffy served as the co-main event.[8] Tsarukyan was initially expected to face former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira also in a five-round lightweight bout, with early reports indicating that Oliveira would defend his symbolic "BMF" (baddest motherfucker) title, but the bout was later changed to a non-title contest.[9][10][11][12] Oliveira and Tsarukyan previously met in April 2024 at UFC 300, where Tsarukyan won via split decision.[13] On August 5, the promotion announced that Tsarukyan would instead face Ruffy. The withdrawal came just days after the death of Oliveira's longtime teammate, UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento, although no official reason for Oliveira's withdrawal was given.[8][14]

A UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship bout between the reigning champion Kayla Harrison (who is also a 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in judo; and a two-time PFL women's lightweight tournament champion) and former two-time champion Amanda Nunes, who also held the UFC Women's Featherweight Championship, was reportedly planned for the event.[10] However, the bout is postponed for undisclosed reasons.[10] The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 324 in January 2026.[15] However, Harrison withdrew from the bout after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck, which required surgery.[16]

A bantamweight bout between former UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Marlon Vera and Charles Jourdain took place at the event.[4] The bout was originally scheduled to take place at UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman in July, but was moved to this event for undisclosed reasons.[17]

A heavyweight bout between former interim UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Curtis Blaydes and former LFA Heavyweight Champion Waldo Cortes-Acosta was scheduled for the event.[18] However, the bout actually took place one week prior at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Delgado.[19]

A lightweight rematch between former lightweight title challenger Renato Moicano and former UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Brian Ortega was scheduled for the main card.[20] However, days before the event, Ortega had to withdraw due to an eye injury, so Moicano was re-scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Nolan against Tom Nolan.[21][22] The pair previously met in a featherweight bout at UFC 214 in July 2017, where Ortega won via third‑round guillotine choke.[23] They were previously expected to rematch at UFC 326 in March,[24] but Ortega withdrew due to injury and Moicano was later moved to headline UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan one month afterward.[25][26]

Results

[edit]
Main card (Paramount+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Flyweight Joshua Van (c) def. Alexandre Pantoja Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 50–45) 5 5:00 [a]
Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan def. Maurício Ruffy KO (elbow) 1 4:56
Featherweight Patrício Pitbull def. Choi Doo-ho TKO (punches and elbows) 1 3:28
Heavyweight Sean Sharaf def. Gable Steveson KO (punch) 1 0:12
Light Heavyweight Alonzo Menifield def. Iwo Baraniewski Decision (split) (29–28, 29–28, 28–29) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (Paramount+)
Bantamweight Marlon Vera def. Charles Jourdain TKO (submission to punch) 3 2:02
Heavyweight Robelis Despaigne def. Tai Tuivasa Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
Featherweight Michael Aswell Jr. def. Yoo Joo-sang Decision (split) (29–28, 29–28, 28–29) 3 5:00
Middleweight Ryan Gandra def. Osman Diaz TKO (punches) 1 2:04
Early preliminary card (Paramount+)
Middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brunno Ferreira Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Women's Flyweight Casey O'Neill def. Eduarda Moura Submission (armbar) 1 3:22
Featherweight Joanderson Brito def. Giga Chikadze KO (punches) 1 1:57

[27]

Bonus awards

[edit]

In addition to the standard $100,000 Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, UFC CEO Dana White announced a one-time "Proper Chaos Bonus" of $50,000, tied to the season two premiere of the Paramount+ series MobLand, which aired the night before the event. The winner was determined at White's discretion.[28]

The following fighters received $100,000 bonuses (during the post-fight press conference, White matched the "Proper Chaos Bonus" to $100,000). The other finishes received $25,000 additional bonuses.[29]

  • Fight of the Night: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
  • Performance of the Night: Arman Tsarukyan and Casey O'Neill
  • "Proper Chaos Bonus": Sean Sharaf

Reported payout

[edit]

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported by the California State Athletic Commission. The amounts do not include sponsor money, discretionary bonuses, viewership points, or additional earnings.[30]

  • Joshua Van: $500,000 (no win bonus) def. Alexandre Pantoja: $650,000
  • Arman Tsarukyan: $350,000 (no win bonus) def. Maurício Ruffy: $110,000
  • Patrício Pitbull: $400,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus) def. Choi Doo-ho: $85,000
  • Sean Sharaf: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Gable Steveson: $160,000
  • Alonzo Menifield: $310,000 (includes $155,000 win bonus) def. Iwo Baraniewski: $50,000
  • Marlon Vera: $400,000 (includes $200,000 win bonus) def. Charles Jourdain: $108,000
  • Robelis Despaigne: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus) def. Tai Tuivasa: $350,000
  • Michael Aswell Jr.: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Yoo Joo-sang: $12,000
  • Ryan Gandra: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Osman Diaz: $25,000
  • Edmen Shahbazyan: $250,000 (includes $125,000 win bonus) def. Brunno Ferreira: $95,000
  • Casey O'Neill: $132,000 (includes $66,000 win bonus) def. Eduarda Moura: $33,000
  • Joanderson Brito: $158,000 (includes $79,000 win bonus) def. Giga Chikadze: $93,000

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Alex Mendez (September 20, 2026). "UFC 331 bonuses: Tsarukyan, O'Neill, Van-Pantoja 2 and Sharaf honored". middleeasy.com. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ Ruben Kok (July 13, 2026). "Crypto.com Arena in LA gastheer voor UFC 331 op 19 september". vechtsportinfo.nl. Retrieved July 14, 2026. (in Dutch)
  3. ↑ Staff (August 1, 2026). "UFC returns to Los Angeles for UFC 331 in September". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Staff (July 7, 2026). "Canada's Charles Jourdain to face Marlon Vera at UFC 331 in September". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ Alexander Behunin (July 7, 2026). "Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain booked for Noche UFC 4 date". mmamania.com. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  6. ↑ Nolan King (August 5, 2026). "UFC 331 gets Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja rematch". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  7. ↑ Jay Anderson (December 7, 2025). "UFC 323: Alexandre Pantoja injures arm, Joshua Van claims gold". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Mike Bohn (August 5, 2026). "Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy five-round bout among UFC 331 additions". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ Anastasiia Dudkina (July 25, 2026). "Oliveira and Tsarukyan set for BMF title rematch at UFC 331 on September 19". telecomasia.net. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Harvey Leonard (August 1, 2026). "Arman Tsarukyan reportedly won't be allowed to challenge for Charles Oliveira's BMF title at UFC 331". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  11. ↑ Kyle Dimond (July 23, 2026). "Arman Tsarukyan title fight reportedly set to headline UFC 331 in Los Angeles". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ Alexander Behunin (July 28, 2026). "Report: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira 2 tops UFC 331 in LA". mmamania.com. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ Patrick McCorry (April 13, 2024). "UFC 300: Arman Tsarukyan takes next step, defeats ex-champ Charles Oliveira". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ Nolan King (August 3, 2026). "UFC announces flyweight Allan Nascimento dead at 34". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Matthew Wells and Nolan King (November 27, 2025). "Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes title bout set for UFC 324 co-main". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  16. ↑ Damon Martin (January 14, 2026). "Kayla Harrison out of UFC 324, fight against Amanda Nunes postponed to later date". mmafighting.com. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  17. ↑ Drew Beaupre (June 23, 2026). "UFC Oklahoma City reportedly gets banger co-main fight after main event announcement". si.com. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  18. ↑ Marcel Dorff (July 12, 2026). "Top 8 heavyweights collide at UFC 331 in Los Angeles". heavy.com. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  19. ↑ Marcel Dorff (July 14, 2026). "Top 8 Heavyweights collide at Noche UFC in Phoenix". heavy.com. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ Jed Meshew (July 24, 2026). "Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega rematch targeted for UFC 331". mmafighting.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ Nolan King (September 14, 2026). "UFC 331 loses main card bout days before event; one fighter gets future main event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
  22. ↑ Farah Hannoun (September 16, 2026). "Brian Ortega: Headbutt during jiu-jitsu caused cut, UFC 331 withdrawal". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ben Fowlkes (July 29, 2017). "UFC 214 results: Brian Ortega earns record 4th straight win by 3rd-round finish vs. Renato Moicano". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ Dan Hiergesell (December 13, 2025). "Report: Brian Ortega finally makes move to lightweight, draws Renato Moicano at UFC 326 on March 7". mmamania.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  25. ↑ Nolan King (January 30, 2026). "Brian Ortega withdraws from UFC 326". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  26. ↑ Nolan King (February 21, 2026). "UFC books American Top Team stablemates for April main event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  28. ↑ Danny Segura (September 14, 2026). "Dana White announces special $50,000 'proper chaos bonus' for UFC 331". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  29. ↑ Dan Hiergesell (September 20, 2026). "Bonuses! Sean Sharaf banks $100K for improbable knockout win over Gable Steveson". mmamania.com. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ Damon Martin (September 20, 2026). "UFC 331 salaries revealed: Alexandre Pantoja, Joshua Van lead all fighters". mmafighting.com. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
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