Joshua Van retained the UFC flyweight championship with a convincing unanimous-decision victory over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles.
The 24-year-old from Myanmar completed five rounds against the former champion and earned the judges’ decision in the rematch.
Van controls the rematch
Van entered the bout with the pressure that comes with defending a world title and handled the five-round contest with composure. His work across the fight was enough to convince all three judges and keep the championship in his possession.
The result strengthened Van’s position at the top of the flyweight division and gave him another major win over an established former champion.
Pantoja falls short in title bid
Pantoja had the opportunity to regain the belt but was unable to do enough over the championship rounds to overturn Van’s advantage.
The unanimous verdict made the outcome clear and completed another important chapter in their rivalry.
What comes next for the flyweight champion
With the title successfully defended, attention will shift to the next challenger in the division. Van’s age, recent form and championship status make him one of the key figures in the UFC’s lighter weight classes.
The UFC has not yet confirmed his next title defence.
