Joshua Van Retains Flyweight Title; Arman Tsarukyan Becomes Top Lightweight Contender

Joshua Van defended his flyweight title by unanimous decision at UFC 331, while Sean Sharaf recorded a 12-second knockout.

Joshua Van retained the UFC men's flyweight championship on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, defeating former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja via unanimous decision. During the UFC 331 main event, Van successfully defended double-digit takedown attempts and dropped Pantoja in the fifth round. While Pantoja secured nearly 10 minutes of control time and won rounds 1 and 4 on the mat, Van’s striking volume and takedown defense secured his second successful title defense.

In the co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan likely established himself as the top contender for lightweight champion Justin Gaethje by finishing Mauricio Ruffy in the first round. Tsarukyan ended the bout by putting the knockout artist to sleep with an elbow. This victory marks one of the most significant wins of Tsarukyan’s career as he moves toward a potential title shot.

Heavyweight Sean Sharaf produced one of the fastest finishes in promotional history on the main card, knocking out top prospect Gable Steveson in 12 seconds. According to ESPN, the Los Angeles event also featured Van outstriking Pantoja throughout the five-round headliner to cement his position at the top of the flyweight division.