Weigh-In Results: Van and Pantoja on Point
Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja successfully made weight for their flyweight title rematch at UFC 331, both coming in at 125 pounds during Friday's official weigh-ins in Los Angeles. Pantoja was the second fighter to step on the scale, following co-main event competitor Mauricio Ruffy, and Van later matched the champion's weight. The bout is a rematch of their UFC 323 meeting, which ended in just 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury, handing Van the title. Pantoja, the long-reigning champion, has been sidelined while recovering, and Van defended the belt successfully against Tatsura Taira in his absence.[S1]
In the co-main event, lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy also made weight for their five-round, non-title fight. Tsarukyan tipped the scales at 156 pounds, while Ruffy came in at 155. The matchup is being billed as a title eliminator, with the winner expected to challenge lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in 2027. All 24 fighters competing on Saturday's card at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles successfully made weight.[S1]
Preliminary Card Predictions and Storylines
Ahead of UFC 331, predictions for the seven preliminary fights highlight several key storylines. Marlon Vera, mired in a losing streak, faces Charles Jourdain, with one analyst picking Vera to finally increase his striking output given that his back is against the wall. Tai Tuivasa meets Robelis Despaigne in a matchup put together because Tuivasa is unlikely to attempt takedowns; Despaigne was previously cut from the UFC after three fights when the promotion determined he had not rounded out his MMA skillset. Michael Aswell Jr. takes on Joo Sang Yoo, with a third straight loss potentially ending Aswell's UFC tenure, though the analyst still favors Yoo.[S2]
Other prelim picks include Ryan Gandra against Ozzy Diaz, where the matchup seems tailor-made for Gandra to add another finish after knocking out his two previous UFC opponents. Edmen Shahbazyan faces Brunno Ferreira in what should be an entertaining fight, with Ferreira leaned on for a minor upset due to his ability to finish on the ground and on the feet. Casey O'Neill, having regained momentum after back-to-back losses, meets Eduarda Moura; a third straight victory could set O'Neill up for a Top 10 opponent in the women's flyweight division. Finally, Giga Chikadze faces Joanderson Brito, with the analyst expecting Brito to win, noting that the 38-year-old Chikadze is more than five years removed from his last finish and is 1-4 in his last five fights.[S2]
