UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 continues on the prelims with a fight between Michael Aswell Jr. and Yoo Joo-sang in the featherweight division. Check out our UFC 331 odds series for our Aswell-Yoo prediction and pick.

Michael Aswell Jr. (11-5) has dropped back-to-back decisions, losing to Gaston Bolanos in June 2026 after also falling to Luke Riley in March. Both defeats went the distance, keeping his never-been-finished streak intact but leaving him searching for consistency as he comes into his fight this weekend against Joo Sang Yoo.

JooSang Yoo (9-1) makes his return after a full year away, having suffered the first loss of his career via second-round TKO to Daniel Santos in October 2025. Before that, he burst onto the scene with a 28-second knockout of Jeka Saragih at UFC 316, and now looks to rebound as he comes into his fight this weekend against Michael Aswell Jr.

UFC 331 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.

UFC 331 Odds: Michael Aswell Jr.-JooSang Yoo

Michael Aswell Jr.: +200

JooSang Yoo: -245

Over 2.5 rounds: -210

Under 2.5 rounds: +160

Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

Why Michael Aswell Jr. Will Win

Aswell’s best chance is to make this a high-output, ugly striking fight rather than a measured technical duel. He lands 7.60 significant strikes per minute, more than Yoo’s 6.36, and consistently forces opponents to work at a pace that can break their rhythm.

The Texas Kid also throws most of his meaningful offense standing, with 96% of his significant strikes landing at range. That willingness to exchange can make Yoo uncomfortable after his first career defeat, especially if Aswell refuses to give him clean countering lanes.

Yoo is the sharper and more accurate fighter on paper, but he has spent a year away from competition after being stopped by Daniel Santos. A layoff following a knockout loss can create hesitation early, and Aswell must capitalize before Yoo settles in.

Aswell’s experience edge matters, too. He has fought more often under UFC pressure and has never been finished across 16 professional bouts, giving him confidence to survive Yoo’s early power and keep pushing.

If Aswell establishes his jab, attacks the body, and maintains relentless volume, he can turn a dangerous matchup into a grinding decision win. His path is not finesse—it is pace, pressure, durability, and forcing Yoo into the kind of prolonged exchanges he has yet to consistently navigate in the UFC.

Article Continues Below

Why JooSang Yoo Will Win

Yoo has the cleaner path to victory because he owns the sharper counterpunching and more proven one-shot power. His UFC debut lasted just 28 seconds, when he flattened Jeka Saragih with a left-hook counter and collected a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

That countering ability matters against Aswell, a pressure-heavy fighter who absorbs 7.03 significant strikes per minute. Aswell’s willingness to crowd opponents creates volume, but it also leaves openings for Yoo to time hooks and straight shots down the middle.

Yoo also enters as the more efficient offensive fighter. He lands approximately 6.7 significant strikes per minute while taking substantially less punishment than Aswell relative to their divisional averages, a key indicator in a matchup likely to feature extended stand-up exchanges.

Aswell has never been stopped, but he has lost consecutive decisions and could be forced to chase the fight if Yoo establishes his counter game early. Yoo’s four knockout wins and rear-naked-choke finish also mean Aswell must respect both his striking and scrambling threats.

If Aswell storms forward as expected, Yoo’s speed, timing, and left-hook counter should eventually find the opening needed to deliver a statement rebound performance.

Final Michael Aswell Jr.-JooSang Yoo Prediction & Pick

Joo Sang Yoo enters as a clear favorite over Michael Aswell in this featherweight prelim, and the numbers support that pricing. Yoo brings a 9-1 record with dynamic, unorthodox striking, while Aswell has lost two straight and gone the distance in all five of his career losses.

Aswell’s style relies on volume and pressure, dragging opponents into scrappy, awkward exchanges over 15 minutes. That approach can frustrate foes, but it has not been enough to finish anyone, and Yoo’s heavier, more varied offense should let him win rounds even in messy sequences.

Yoo’s biggest question is durability and finishing efficiency, since his average UFC fight time is extremely short at just under three minutes, hinting at either explosive finishes or early setbacks. If he stays composed and picks his spots rather than brawling recklessly, his power advantage becomes decisive.

Expect Aswell to be a persistent pest early, but Yoo's sharper technical tools should take over by the second round as he gets the nod on the judge's scorecards when it's all said and done.

Final Michael Aswell Jr.-JooSang Yoo Prediction & Pick: JooSang Yoo (-245), OVER 2.5 Rounds (-210)