Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy face off tensely, promoting a fight in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube/UFC
Finally, UFC 331 is upon us and the fight night promises to be one of the most fun for MMA fans. At the UFC event taking place this Saturday (19), in California (USA), Joshua Van , flyweight champion (up to 56,7 kg), will have a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja , former king of the category, in the main fight. And the grand attraction goes beyond the new chapter of the rivalry between the young and the veteran.
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In total, UFC 331 consists of 12 fights and features seven members of the 'Brazilian Squad'. In the co-main event, Maurício Ruffy will have the biggest fight of his career against the feared Arman Tsarukyan in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg). Brunno Hulk , Eduarda Moura , Joanderson Tubarão , Patrício Pitbull, and Ryan Gandra also represent the country in the event. To get you in the mood, the SUPER LUTAS team has selected five reasons to watch the spectacle.
1) Does Pantoja take revenge?
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja face off tensely at UFC. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube/UFC
It took a while, but Alexandre Pantoja finally has his long-awaited chance to get his hands on Joshua Van . In their first fight, held in December, the Brazilian suffered an arm injury just 26 seconds into the bout and, unable to compete, lost his flyweight title, thus seeing his long reign crumble.
Now, the veteran can 'kill two birds with one stone': get revenge on his rival and reclaim the title. After many provocations, mostly from Van, the atmosphere between the fighters is hostile. The Burmese champion exudes confidence, but Pantoja is not intimidated and guarantees he is prepared to teach him a lesson. For many, the rematch has all the makings of one of the best fights in the division's history.
2) Does Luffy shock the world?
In the co-main event, Mauricio Ruffy is the underdog against Arman Tsarukyan , largely due to their contrasting styles. The Brazilian is a striking specialist and, for many, one of the best strikers not only in the lightweight division but also in MMA. The Armenian, on the other hand, possesses a high level of wrestling and often punishes his opponents with a combination of takedowns and brutal ground and pound.
Currently, Ruffy is ranked tenth in the UFC lightweight division, and since Tsarukyan is number two, some fans and MMA professionals believe he is not ready for the challenge. This is especially true after the Brazilian was easily controlled and submitted by Benoit Saint Denis in 2025. However, the athlete assures that he has improved and promises to surprise the Armenian.
3) Last bark of the Pitbull?
Pitbull focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Also on the main card, Patrício Pitbull has another chance to prove his worth in the UFC. This time, the former Bellator featherweight king (up to 65,8 kg) faces knockout artist Doo-ho Choi and, at 39 years old, is considered the underdog. Furthermore, the Brazilian is coming off a loss and needs a win more than ever.
It's worth noting that, so far, the veteran has had three fights for Dana White's organization, losing two, meaning he has a negative record. Therefore, if Pitbull is defeated again, he will be at serious risk of being cut by the UFC, even though he is a big name in MMA.
4) The new Jon Jones in action
Gable Stevenson promotes Dirty Boxing event. Photo: Reproduction Facebook DirtyBoxing
Olympic wrestling champion Gable Stevenson makes his second UFC appearance and is a strong favorite to win. In the event, the athlete, who is a friend and protégé of Jon Jones , faces Sean Sharaf, who has yet to win in the company, in the heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg). Therefore, the expectation is that the wrestler will dominate his opponent and knock him out in the first round.
It's worth highlighting that Gable is athletic, well-conditioned, explosive, powerful, fast, and undefeated in MMA. Not surprisingly, many call him a kind of 'New Jon Jones '. It's true that, despite the hype, the American is still outside the top 15 of the heavyweight division, but the trend suggests that he will soon be among the elite and even compete for the title.
5) Polish Show Dconstructor
Baraniewski makes weight and confirms fight in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Iwo Baraniewski is making his mark in the UFC light heavyweight division (up to 93 kg). The 27-year-old Pole is undefeated in MMA and impresses with each UFC appearance. While in the Contender Series he needed an incredible 20 seconds to impress Dana White and earn his contract with the company, he continues to quickly dominate the competition within the UFC.
So far, Baraniewski has fought three times in the UFC, knocking out his opponent in all of them, earning three performance bonuses, and doing so in 1 minute 29 seconds, 28 seconds, and 1 minute 25 seconds. Now, the Polish fighter faces Alonzo Menifield and, as expected, is a strong favorite to win with a spectacular performance. Furthermore, if he shines at the event, he could even enter the division's rankings.
UFC 331 technical sheet
Date: 19 September 2026
Time: Starting at 18:30 PM (Brasilia time)
Location: Crypto.com Arena, California, United States
How to watch: SUPER FIGHTS LIVE in real time , Paramount+ (entire card) on TV and internet.
MAIN CARD (22pm Brasília time)
Flyweight (up to 56,7 kg): Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2 – title fight
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): Patricio Pitbull x Dooho Choi
Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Gable Stevenson vs. Sean Sharaf
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
PRELIMINARY CARD (18:30 p.m. Brasília time)
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain
Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Tai Tuivasa x Robelis Despaigne
Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joo Sang Yoo
Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Ryan Gandra x Ozzy Diaz
Average weight (up to 83,9 kg): Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Hulk
Flyweight (up to 56,7 kg): Casey O'Neill vs. Eduarda Moura
Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Tubarão
Johnny Walker opens up about his heavyweight debut at UFC 332.
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