Overview
- Van retained the UFC flyweight belt by unanimous decision after five rounds at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, with official scorecards reading 50-45, 49-46 and 48-47.
- The main event between Van and Alexandre Pantoja earned Fight of the Night and ended questions about Van’s December title win that finished early because of Pantoja’s arm injury.
- Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy with elbows at 4:56 of round one in the co‑main event, a finish that positions him as the leading lightweight challenger for a title shot.
- Heavyweight Sean Sharaf scored a 12-second upset knockout of Gable Steveson and received an extra discretionary bonus from Dana White, and multiple fighters earned Performance and finish bonuses.
- Van now has back-to-back defenses and clearer legitimacy at 125 pounds, a result that tightens the division’s title picture and shifts matchmaking priorities toward the fighters who delivered highlight finishes.