No Bets Barred: Can Alexandre Pantoja reclaim his belt against Joshua Van, or is VanLife here to stay?

Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja will meet in a flyweight title rematch at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday, with significant implications for both fighters. Their first encounter ended due to a freak injury that resulted in Van becoming champion despite not defeating Pantoja inside the cage—a controversial path to the belt that has left questions about the legitimacy of the outcome.
This rematch offers both men a chance to settle the record. For Pantoja, it represents an opportunity to reclaim the title he held before the injury-plagued first fight. For Van, victory would validate his status as champion and prove that the initial injury was merely an unfortunate circumstance rather than an indicator of how a full fight would have unfolded.
The UFC 331 card features several notable bouts beyond the title fight. Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in what has become a pivotal matchup for Tsarukyan's championship aspirations. Patricio Pitbull and Doo Ho Choi are also set to clash on the card, providing additional high-stakes action for Los Angeles fans.
On the latest episode of the No Bets Barred podcast, host Jed Meshew breaks down the full UFC 331 card and explores whether Pantoja can reclaim his throne or if the "#VanLife" era will continue to define the flyweight division. The episode, number 165, also covers the rest of the undercard and broader storylines from the event. New episodes of No Bets Barred drop every Wednesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
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