Any lingering questions about the legitimacy of Joshua Van's championship reign were emphatically answered on Saturday night.

In the highly anticipated main event of UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena, the 24-year-old phenom retained his UFC flyweight title with a masterful unanimous decision victory over former champion Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja.

​Van, who originally claimed the belt in a bizarre 26-second injury stoppage last December, entered this rematch with a massive chip on his shoulder. He left no room for doubt this time around, systematically picking apart the Brazilian veteran over 25 grueling minutes to earn scorecards of 49-46, 49-47, and a staggering 50-45.

THE FLYWEIGHT KING

Make that TWO title defenses for @JoshuaVanBT!!!

[ #CryptoCom #UFC331 ] pic.twitter.com/vNHYRA12hE

— UFC (@ufc) September 20, 2026

Pantoja, known for his relentless pressure and world-class grappling, tried to drag the young champion into deep waters early. However, Van’s takedown defense proved impenetrable. The champion displayed maturity well beyond his years, utilizing exceptional footwork to stay off the fence and pumping a stiff jab that repeatedly stifled Pantoja's advances.

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As the fight progressed, the speed and volume of Van became the undeniable story. He found his rhythm in the championship rounds, overwhelming the 36-year-old challenger with rapid-fire combinations and punishing body work. Despite his legendary toughness, Pantoja visibly slowed under the avalanche of strikes, unable to match the blistering pace set by the young kingpin.

By the final horn, Van had amassed an overwhelming striking differential, proving that his elite boxing and composed cage generalship are currently peerless at 125 pounds.

With back-to-back title defenses now on his resume, Joshua Van has officially ushered in a new era for the flyweight division. The “Fearless” era is in full swing, and it looks like the belt won't be moving anytime soon.