On To the Next One: Matches to make after chaotic UFC 331 event

UFC 331 served up one of 2026's strongest fight cards, headlined by Joshua Van's five-round victory over Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch and Arman Tsarukyan's knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy that earned him a title shot against Justin Gaethje at lightweight. With big winners across the card, the matchmaking possibilities are numerous.

On a new edition of MMA Fighting's On To the Next One podcast, hosts Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee break down what comes next for Van and Tsarukyan following their headline performances. The discussion expands to include future opponents for other standout performers from the event: Patricio Pitbull, who knocked out Doo Ho Choi; Sean Sharaf, whose 12-second finish of Gable Steveson marked a career-defining moment; Iwo Baraniewski, another main card winner; and additional fighters from the stacked lineup.

The hosts also field matchmaking suggestions from viewers submitted via chat and the SB Nation app, crowdsourcing ideas for the promotion's next moves. The full podcast is available in the video linked above, with audio-only versions available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other major podcast platforms for those who prefer to listen on the go.