UFC 331 Predictions: Van vs. Pantoja Flyweight Title Picks — SkimNews
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- Joshua Van defends his UFC flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday, listed as a -135 favorite over Pantoja (+114) per DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Van first won the belt last December when Pantoja dislocated his elbow just 26 seconds into their initial meeting, and the 36-year-old Pantoja enters the rematch as a betting underdog after the injury layoff.
- CBS Sports experts split on the main event picks — Brian Campbell and Shakiel Mahjouri chose Pantoja, with Mahjouri invoking a Conor McGregor-style upset knockout of Jose Aldo, while Brent Brookhouse backed Van to cement his elite status.
- Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy as a -305 favorite in the co-main lightweight bout, with all three experts picking Tsarukyan to exploit Ruffy's grappling deficiencies that were exposed in a 2025 mauling by Benoit Saint Denis.
- Campbell wrote a clear stoppage victory should secure Tsarukyan his lightweight title shot, after Tsarukyan pulled out of a UFC 311 rematch with Islam Makhachev.
- Gable Steveson sits as a massive -2100 favorite over Sean Sharaf (+1100) in one of the most lopsided heavyweight matchups on the 12-bout UFC 331 card.
Why it matters: Van holds the belt only because Pantoja suffered a 26-second injury stoppage last December, meaning Saturday's rematch is Pantoja's first chance to prove the title loss was a fluke rather than a decline. For Tsarukyan — whose last shot at Makhachev evaporated when he withdrew from UFC 311 — a co-main win is the clearest path back to lightweight gold.
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