UFC 331 event news
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The gist
UFC 331 on September 19 features Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2 and Tsarukyan vs Ruffy. Dana White won't guarantee the lightweight winner a title shot.
Background
UFC 331 is scheduled for September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The main event is a flyweight title rematch between champion Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja, who lost their first fight due to injury. The co-main event is a lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy, which both fighters have claimed is a title eliminator, but UFC president Dana White has refused to confirm that the winner will get a title shot.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2025Joshua Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 when Pantoja dislocated his elbow 26 seconds into the fight, winning the flyweight title.
- Nov 2025Arman Tsarukyan returned from injury and submitted Dan Hooker, which many felt would earn him a title shot.
- Aug 14, 2026UFC 331 press conference held in Philadelphia, where Tsarukyan and Ruffy both stated their fight is for the No. 1 contender spot.
- Sep 4, 2026Dana White said he 'hate[s] to say' the winner is guaranteed a title shot, casting doubt on the co-main event's stakes.
- Sep 19, 2026UFC 331 takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, headlined by Van vs Pantoja 2 and Tsarukyan vs Ruffy.
Who’s saying what
- Fighters
- Tsarukyan and Ruffy both claim the winner of their fight will be next in line for the lightweight title.
- UFC President
- Dana White refuses to confirm a title shot for the winner, saying 'let's see how this fight plays out.'
Still unverified
The claim that the UFC 331 co-main event winner is guaranteed a title shot is disputed; Dana White has not confirmed it.