UFC 331 Crowns 24-Year-Old Van as Tsarukyan, Sharaf Deliver 12-Second Upset

Q: Will Joshua Van's masterclass performance finally silence the critics and cement him as the flyweight division's most unstoppable long-term ruler?

Yes—Joshua Van’s performance went a long way toward ending the biggest criticism around his title reign, even if “unstoppable” is still too strong for any division as deep and volatile as flyweight. What Van did at UFC 331 was exactly what doubters demanded after the first Pantoja fight ended in an injury. In the rematch, he beat a fully prepared former champion over five rounds and did it with a complete game: sharp boxing, pace, composure under pressure, and strong defensive grappling. By most reports, he defended 13 of 18 takedowns, outlanded Pantoja by a wide margin, and scored the fight’s only knockdown late. That matters because Pantoja had been the division’s proven standard. The win also strengthens the long-term case for Van more than the short-term hype. At 24, with two title defenses already, he has shown improvement from fight to fight and appears to have the conditioning, timing, and fight IQ to stay on top for a while. Dana White’s praise and the broad reaction around the sport reflect that this was seen as a legitimizing championship performance, not just another defense. Still, “cemented” is premature if the bar is a years-long rule. Flyweight remains dangerous, and Manel Kape—on a four-fight knockout streak—is a serious next test. Van looks like the clear No. 1 fighter in the division right now. Whether he becomes its dominant long-term ruler will depend on how he handles the next wave of contenders, but UFC 331 was the clearest sign yet that he can.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 20

Joshua Van, 24, cemented himself as UFC's flyweight champion with a decisive rematch win over Alexandre Pantoja, closing strong in the fifth round after Pantoja's title hopes had already been shaken by an injury loss.
Arman Tsarukyan strengthened his claim to the next lightweight title shot by stopping Mauricio Ruffy with a short elbow, answering questions about whether Ruffy's takedown defense could blunt his attack.
Sean Sharaf produced the night's biggest shock by knocking out Gable Steveson in 12 seconds despite entering as a 12-to-1 underdog and carrying an 0-2 UFC record.
Alonzo Menifield added to the card's drama by surviving a first-round barrage and a painful thumb injury to outlast Iwo Baraniewski, underscoring the event's theme of resilience and reversals.
Los Angeles got a badly needed jolt after several flat UFC cards, with UFC 331 delivering the kind of upset-heavy, action-packed night that can reshape multiple divisions at once.

Sources

Yahoo Sports2d ago

UFC 331: Van, Tsarukyan, Sharaf Deliver Shocks and Upsets

Al Jazeera English2d ago

Myanmar’s Van defeats Pantoja to retain flyweight title in UFC 331

Yahoo Sports2d ago

UFC 331 post-fight show: Reaction to Joshua Van and Arman Tsarukyan's big wins, Gable Steveson's brutal knockout loss - Yahoo Sports

9 Sources

Will Joshua Van's masterclass performance finally silence the critics and cement him as the flyweight division's most unstoppable long-term ruler?

After a historically brutal 12-second knockout, is Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson's highly anticipated MMA career already over before it truly began?

Does Arman Tsarukyan's devastating first-round finish prove he is the ultimate nightmare matchup for lightweight champion Justin Gaethje?