UFC 331 Weigh-In Results: Van, Pantoja Make Weight
The UFC 331 weigh-in results are official, and Saturday’s flyweight championship rematch is set. UFC champion Joshua Van and former champion Alexandre Pantoja both successfully weighed 125 pounds at Friday’s official weigh-ins in Los Angeles.
The result clears the final major hurdle before the two fighters meet again at Crypto.com Arena on September 19. The matchup headlines Crypto.com UFC 331 and gives Pantoja an opportunity to reclaim the championship after their first meeting ended after just 26 seconds because of an arm injury. MMMA Fighting+1
All 24 fighters scheduled for the 12-fight card also made weight. That means UFC 331 enters fight night without a missed-weight issue affecting the scheduled bouts. UUFC
UFC 331 Weigh-In Results: Van and Pantoja at 125
The most important numbers from Friday’s scale were identical.
Joshua Van weighed 125 pounds, while Alexandre Pantoja also came in at 125 pounds for their five-round flyweight championship contest. Because the fight is for the UFC title, both competitors needed to make the championship limit. UUFC
The successful weigh-ins officially lock in one of the most anticipated rematches in the UFC flyweight division.
Van enters the fight as the reigning champion. Pantoja enters as the former champion attempting to regain the belt he lost after their first encounter was stopped because of injury.
With both fighters on weight, the focus now shifts completely from the scale to the Octagon.
Van vs. Pantoja 2 Finally Arrives
The rematch has been building since their first meeting at UFC 323.
That fight lasted only 26 seconds after Pantoja suffered an elbow injury. Van was subsequently awarded the victory and became UFC flyweight champion, but the unusual ending left questions surrounding the matchup.
Rather than a conventional five-round contest, the first fight ended before either man had the opportunity to establish a complete game plan.
That is why the second meeting carries a different significance.
Pantoja will have the opportunity to compete against Van without the injury that prematurely ended their first contest. Van, meanwhile, will attempt to demonstrate that his championship victory was more than the result of an unfortunate injury.
The UFC officially announced the rematch for UFC 331 in August. The promotion noted that Van had already defended the flyweight championship against Tatsuro Taira after winning the belt from Pantoja. UUFC
Joshua Van Enters as the Champion
Van has already added another significant result to his championship reign.
After becoming champion, he defended the title against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 in May. UFC reported that Van stopped Taira with a fifth-round TKO. UUFC
That victory gives Van an important piece of experience heading into his second fight with Pantoja.
The champion is also considerably younger than his opponent, although age alone does not determine the outcome of an MMA fight.
What matters on Saturday will be how Van handles Pantoja’s pressure, grappling and experience over five rounds.
The 125-pound weigh-in confirms that Van is physically ready for the championship defense.
Alexandre Pantoja Returns to the Octagon
For Pantoja, UFC 331 marks his return following the injury that ended the first Van fight.
Before losing the championship, Pantoja had established himself as one of the UFC’s leading flyweights. The UFC says he won the title from Brandon Moreno in 2023 and successfully defended it four times against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France. UUFC
His absence has therefore created a major storyline around the flyweight division.
Rather than moving on from Pantoja, the UFC has brought him directly back into a championship rematch.
The former champion now has the chance to settle the matchup under very different circumstances.
Pantoja also spoke openly about his determination before the fight. MMA Fighting reported that he has been preparing specifically for the rematch and expects a demanding contest against Van. MMMA Fighting
All 24 UFC 331 Fighters Make Weight
The main event was not the only fight to clear the weigh-in process.
According to the official UFC results, every fighter on the 12-bout card made weight. UUFC
The complete results are:
Main Card
- Joshua Van — 125 pounds vs. Alexandre Pantoja — 125 pounds
- Arman Tsarukyan — 156 pounds vs. Mauricio Ruffy — 155 pounds
- Patricio “Pitbull” Freire — 145.5 pounds vs. Dooho Choi — 146 pounds
- Gable Steveson — 240 pounds vs. Sean Sharaf — 241 pounds
- Alonzo Menifield — 205.5 pounds vs. Iwo Baraniewski — 206 pounds
Preliminary Card
- Marlon Vera — 136 pounds vs. Charles Jourdain — 135 pounds
- Tai Tuivasa — 264.5 pounds vs. Robelis Despaigne — 263 pounds
- Michael Aswell Jr. — 146 pounds vs. Joo Sang Yoo — 145.5 pounds
- Ryan Gandra — 186 pounds vs. Ozzy Diaz — 186 pounds
Early Preliminary Card
- Edmen Shahbazyan — 185 pounds vs. Brunno Ferreira — 184.5 pounds
- Casey O’Neill — 125 pounds vs. Eduarda Moura — 125.5 pounds
- Giga Chikadze — 146 pounds vs. Joanderson Brito — 145.5 pounds U
UFC
Tsarukyan and Ruffy Also Make Weight
The co-main event also passed the weigh-in without an issue.
Arman Tsarukyan registered at 156 pounds, while Mauricio Ruffy came in at 155 pounds. Their matchup is scheduled for five rounds despite not being a championship fight. UUFC+1
The bout carries substantial importance for the UFC lightweight division.
UFC announced the contest as a five-round co-main event between Tsarukyan, a highly ranked lightweight contender, and Ruffy, who has been building momentum in the division. UUFC
Unlike the main event, there is no championship belt immediately at stake. However, the matchup gives both fighters an opportunity to make a statement in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.
Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi
Former Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire also successfully made weight for his featherweight matchup against Dooho Choi.
Pitbull weighed 145.5 pounds, while Choi registered at 146 pounds. UUFC
The matchup adds another experienced name to an already significant UFC 331 main card.
For fans following the full card, it also provides a fight between two established competitors with very different backgrounds and career paths.
Gable Steveson Also Hits the Scale
Gable Steveson weighed 240 pounds ahead of his heavyweight bout with Sean Sharaf, who registered at 241 pounds.
The heavyweight matchup is another notable contest on the main card, where a one-pound difference separates the two competitors. UUFC
Heavyweight fights can change quickly because of the division’s power, making the matchup one of the card’s potentially unpredictable contests.
When Is UFC 331?
UFC 331 takes place Saturday, September 19, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
The UFC has scheduled the event across three stages.
The early prelims begin at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET in the United States. The event is available on Paramount+ in the U.S., while UFC has listed regional broadcast options for international viewers. UUFC
For viewers in Thailand and Cambodia, UFC lists the main card for 8 a.m. ICT on Sunday, September 20, with the prelims beginning at 6 a.m. ICT. UUFC
UFC 331 Main Event Is Officially Set
With both championship fighters at 125 pounds, there is now no weight-related obstacle standing between Van and Pantoja.
The significance of the fight goes beyond a standard title defense.
Their first meeting was determined by an injury almost immediately after the opening bell. This time, both fighters have had the opportunity to prepare for a full championship contest.
Van brings the momentum of a reigning champion who has already defended his belt.
Pantoja brings championship experience and the opportunity to regain the title.
That combination makes the rematch one of the central storylines of UFC 331.
What the UFC 331 Weigh-In Results Mean
The weigh-ins do not determine who will win the fight.
They do, however, confirm that the championship bout is officially ready to proceed as scheduled.
Van and Pantoja both reaching 125 pounds means the UFC flyweight title will be contested under the expected conditions.
The same applies across the rest of the card. All 24 fighters made their contracted weights, meaning UFC 331 arrives at fight night without a missed-weight disruption. UUFC
For fans, the next stage is the one that matters most: the actual fights.
UFC 331 Moves From the Scale to the Octagon
The UFC 331 weigh-in results have settled the final questions surrounding Saturday’s lineup.
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja both made the 125-pound championship limit. Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy also successfully made weight for their five-round co-main event, while every other scheduled fighter reached the required mark. UUFC
Now the attention turns to Crypto.com Arena.
Van will attempt to continue his championship reign. Pantoja will attempt to reclaim the belt that he lost after their first meeting ended prematurely.
This time, there should be no uncertainty about whether the two flyweights are physically prepared to compete.
They both made weight.
The rematch is officially on.
