‘Van is on another level’: Pros react to Joshua Van winning rollicking UFC 331 main event over Alexandre Pantoja

Joshua Van silenced any lingering doubts about his legitimacy as flyweight champion, authoritatively defeating Alexandre Pantoja over five rounds via unanimous decision in the UFC 331 main event. Nine months earlier, Van had won the title when Pantoja suffered an arm injury just 30 seconds into their first meeting—a result that prompted skeptics to question whether Van's victory was a legitimate championship performance. On Saturday, the younger, more explosive Van systematically outworked the resilient Pantoja across all five rounds, combining superior hand speed and boxing with sharp combinations that gradually wore down the former champion. Pantoja brought relentless wrestling and occasional striking exchanges, but Van's reversals and footwork kept him from sustained control. In the fifth and final round, Van scored a decisive knockdown that sealed his second title defense. The judges awarded Van rounds 49–46, 49–46, and 50–45. Pro fighters quickly took to social media in praise of Van's dominance, with Paulo Costa summing it up: "Van is on another level."