UFC 331 Aftermath Sets Stage for Van Versus Kape Showdown
Joshua Van retains his belt after a dominant win, while Arman Tsarukyan cements his status as the top lightweight contender.
Key points
- Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja via unanimous decision to retain his flyweight title at UFC 331.
- Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in the first round to solidify his status as the top lightweight contender.
- Manel Kape is identified as the logical next opponent for Van, while Patricio Pitbull earned a fight against Melquizael Costa.
The air in Crypto.com Arena still hums with the residual charge of a chaotic night. Joshua Van stands tall, his flyweight title secured for the second time, having weathered a storm of blows from Alexandre Pantoja. The judges' cards tell a story of controlled dominance, with Van navigating the chaos to keep his crown. It is a victory that feels less like a battle and more like a siege held against a desperate assault.
But the real story is the blood left on the canvas for those who watched. UFC 331 delivered a slate of upsets that shattered expectations, led by Sean Sharaf’s twelve-second knockout of Gable Steveson. Marlon Chito Vera also reclaimed his form, ending a long drought of victories since August 2023. This was not just a card; it was a reshuffling of the divisional decks, setting the stage for the inevitable collisions to come.
Flyweight throne faces next test
With the belt in hand, Van’s path is clear. Manel Kape is the only logical opponent, riding a four-fight winning streak that includes a third-round TKO over Kyoji Horiguchi in June 2026. Kape has no other contenders to face, making this matchup a guaranteed spectacle. Both men are elite strikers who press forward, unafraid of a brawl. Their clash would be a perfect co-main event, a coiled spring ready to release its energy in the first quarter of 2027.
Lightweight contender asserts dominance
In the co-main, Arman Tsarukyan made his intention known. He knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in the first round, a statement that solidifies his position as the number one contender. The fight was a clinic in control; after Ruffy landed early strikes, Tsarukyan took the clinch and broke it with a vicious elbow that ended the contest. Ruffy was already out cold when the next strike landed. This performance cements Tsarukyan as the most deserving challenger to Justin Gaethje.
The lightweight division is deep, with names like Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett vying for attention. However, Topuria is coming off a loss to Gaethje, and Pimblett suffered a defeat to the champion two fights ago. Charles Oliveira has a win over Gaethje but also a loss to Tsarukyan. The evidence points to one conclusion: Tsarukyan vs. Gaethje is the main event for early 2027.
Featherweight rankings shift after upset
Patricio Pitbull delivered a vintage performance, securing a first-round TKO over Dooho Choi. This win earns him a shot at a ranked opponent, specifically Melquizael Costa. Costa, currently number thirteen, is coming off a loss to Arnold Allen and needs to fight someone lower in the rankings. Pitbull, now number fifteen, has proven he can handle pressure, but a jump to contender status would be premature. This matchup is a logical step, a test of endurance and skill for both men.
