Joshua Van erased any remaining doubt surrounding his UFC flyweight championship on Saturday night.
Van defeated former champion Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, successfully defending his title for the second time. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-47 and 50-45 in Van’s favor.
Van Takes Control After Fast Start
Pantoja came out aggressively, immediately looking to put Van in difficult positions.
The former champion scored an early takedown, but Van quickly settled into the fight and began finding his range with his boxing. His jab, combinations and kicks allowed him to control much of the action at distance.
Van’s striking became increasingly effective as the fight continued, forcing Pantoja to rely heavily on his grappling.
Pantoja Keeps Fighting
Pantoja refused to go away quietly.
The former champion repeatedly looked for takedowns and managed to control portions of the fight on the ground. Van, however, consistently defended himself and worked his way back to his feet.
That ability to survive Pantoja’s grappling and return to striking proved to be one of the biggest differences in the fight.
Van Seals It In The Fifth
Van saved one of his biggest moments for the final round.
The champion dropped Pantoja with a clean shot and briefly looked for a submission before the two returned to their feet and battled until the final horn.
When the scorecards were announced, there was no controversy this time.
Van had clearly won.
A Statement From The Champion
The victory gives Van a professional record of 18-2 and further establishes him as the UFC’s flyweight champion.
Their first meeting ended after Pantoja suffered an elbow dislocation just 26 seconds into the fight, leaving some questions surrounding Van’s championship reign. This time, Van settled the rivalry over five full rounds.
Van has now defended his title twice, and his latest victory came against the man who held the belt before him.
The flyweight champion wanted to prove he belonged at the top.
On Saturday night, Joshua Van did exactly that.
