Joshua Van Dominates Pantoja as Sean Sharaf Records Historic Upset at UFC 331

Flyweight Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja via decision at UFC 331, while Sean Sharaf knocked out Gable Steveson in just 12 seconds.

At UFC 331, flyweight Joshua Van secured a victory over Alexandre Pantoja, pulling away on the scorecards after five rounds. The 24-year-old champion defended takedowns and escaped ground exchanges against Pantoja, who was returning from injury. Van punctuated the performance in the fifth round by dropping Pantoja with a right hand. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto noted that Van, who has less than five years of professional experience, caught Pantoja’s glove to counter a punch and intercepted several of the veteran's kicks during the bout.

In the heavyweight division, Sean Sharaf recorded the largest upset in UFC history, according to DraftKings, by knocking out Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in 12 seconds. Sharaf entered the contest with an 0-2 promotional record, having lost both previous fights by knockout. The defeat marked the first time Steveson, a two-time NCAA Division I national champion with a 103-3 collegiate record, was stopped in professional MMA competition.

Arman Tsarukyan also made a significant statement at lightweight, defeating Mauricio Ruffy via a walkoff knockout. The victory places Tsarukyan in a competitive title picture currently led by champion Justin Gaethje, who recently defended his throne against Ilia Topuria. The division also features active top-five contenders Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, alongside Paddy Pimblett, who recently submitted Benoît Saint Denis in under one minute.