Alexandre Pantoja After UFC 331: What Comes Next After His Second Defeat to Joshua Van?

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Alexandre Pantoja failed to retake the UFC flyweight title back in September. Instead, we saw a Joshua Van victory by unanimous decision at UFC 331 in Los Angeles. When they first met, the action ended in just 26 seconds when Pantoja injured his arm. This time, the fight went the full five rounds, with Van winning 49-46, 48-47, 50-45. This was Pantoja’s second consecutive defeat against the champion.

The result leaves the 36-year-old Brazilian's path back to the belt uncertain. Pantoja remains one of the most accomplished flyweights in UFC history, but his past achievements won't be enough to secure another immediate title fight. If he continues, he will need to beat other top contenders and prove he can still compete at the division's highest level.

UFC 331 Leaves Pantoja With Work to Do

When Pantoja lost against Van at UFC 323 in December 2025, he had a clear case for receiving a rematch. The arm injury ended the contest almost instantly, leaving little chance to see how Van would cope with Pantoja’s pressure, grappling, and submission attacks. UFC 331 gave both fighters a chance to settle the unanswered questions.

Van clearly delivered the better performance over five rounds. Pantoja had periods of success and secured takedowns, but he couldn't consistently turn those positions into sustained control or serious submission attempts. Van kept finding opportunities with his striking and finished strong enough to win all three scorecards.

The result makes a third consecutive fight between them difficult to justify right now. Pantoja got a chance to regain his championship after the unusual ending to their first meeting and couldn't take it. Other contenders now have a stronger case for facing Van before Pantoja gets another chance.

His Championship Record Still Counts

At UFC 290 in July 2023, Pantoja became the flyweight champion. This was on the back of beating Brandon Moreno with a split decision. This win followed years of tough competition and helped establish him at the top of the division. He had already shown his worth, with a real ability to handle pressure over five rounds.

His greatest threat often came once he established a strong position on the ground. Pantoja could take an opponent's back during scrambles and quickly attack submissions, while his willingness to keep working made it hard for opponents to simply wait for the round to end. He also proved he could maintain that approach in demanding championship fights.

He last successfully defended his title against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 in June 2025, winning by third-round rear-naked choke. That performance wasn't long enough ago to dismiss Pantoja as a fighter who can no longer compete with strong opposition. The question after UFC 331 is whether he can still consistently deliver those performances against the current leading contenders.

Should Pantoja Consider Retirement?

Pantoja is 36 and has competed professionally since 2007. This makes questions about retirement well-founded. Nearly two decades of training and fighting take a real toll, and the flyweight division demands speed, reflexes, and conditioning. Van is much younger, and plenty of fighters from a new generation are entering the ranks.

However, Pantoja has made no confirmed retirement announcement. Two defeats against the same champion don't automatically mean that he can no longer beat other ranked flyweights, especially when the first loss resulted from an injury. A fight against another top opponent would provide much better evidence of where he stands now.

Pantoja also has to decide whether another attempt to win the championship is worth the work required. He is unlikely to move directly from two defeats to Van into another title fight, so he may need two or more wins before the opportunity returns. For someone who has already become champion and defended the belt, that decision will depend as much on motivation as on ability.

Pantoja Planned to Continue Fighting

Before UFC 331, Pantoja was already discussing what he wanted to do after the Van rematch. He said spending almost a year without competing was too long and made it clear he wanted to fight more regularly. He also discussed possible future opponents, which suggests he wasn't approaching UFC 331 as a final appearance.

Pantoja also changed how he prepared. He spoke about improving his sleep and diet, investing more in his training camps and having better support around him. Those changes let him focus on training while also spending more time with his family.

The defeat may have changed his plans, and pre-fight comments can't confirm what he intends to do afterward. They do show that Pantoja hadn't lost his appetite for competing before UFC 331. Unless his view has changed since losing to Van, his immediate concern is likely finding the right next opponent.

Manel Kape Is an Obvious Option

Manel Kape is a potential opponent, and Pantoja even mentioned him before UFC 331. The two met in February 2021, and Pantoja won by unanimous decision. However, with five years having passed, a rematch would be a great opportunity for both fighters to show how much they have changed.

For Pantoja, the fight would answer an important question. If he can still beat a leading contender like Kape, the two Van defeats become less convincing evidence of a wider decline. A clear loss would make another championship run considerably harder to see.

Kape would have plenty to gain, too. Defeating a former champion who already beat him would strengthen his position in the division. No rematch has been confirmed, but Pantoja needs this level of opposition to prove he remains a serious title contender.

Can Pantoja Earn a Third Fight With Van?

No one can rule out a third meeting between the two, but Pantoja needs wins first. With Van's latest victory, there is no immediate urgency for another rematch.

Pantoja would improve his position considerably by beating one of the division's leading contenders. Two strong wins would make an even stronger case, especially if Van remains champion through that period. Pantoja would also need to show he can adjust after struggling to impose his grappling consistently in their latest fight.

If they meet again, Van's two victories would inevitably affect the UFC odds, though Pantoja's results before a third fight would also shape how the matchup is assessed. A successful run against leading opposition could give the UFC a reason to revisit the rivalry. Until then, Van has already beaten Pantoja twice and has other challengers to consider.

Van Can Now Face Different Opposition

Van entered UFC 331 with something to prove. Although he already held the belt, he needed to show this had nothing to do with Pantoja’s misfortune. He had to prove he could beat a fully fit Pantoja.

Going 25 minutes with Pantoja and winning on every scorecard strengthens Van's position considerably. He faced an experienced opponent who could pressure him, attempt takedowns, and threaten on the ground, yet he still did enough to retain the championship. The result allows Van to move forward without another immediate fight against Pantoja hanging over him.

Natália Silva Wins UFC Gold

Brazil celebrated another championship on 3 October when Natália Silva defeated Wang Cong for the vacant women's flyweight title at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City. Silva won by unanimous decision after five rounds, with scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. The result extended her winning streak, kept her unbeaten UFC record intact, and put her at the top of the division after Valentina Shevchenko vacated the title due to injury.

Silva's movement and varied striking helped her build an advantage, although Wang became increasingly dangerous as the contest progressed. The later rounds were close enough to keep the outcome uncertain, but all three judges awarded Silva the fight. Brazil gained a new UFC champion just two weeks after Pantoja failed to regain his belt.

Johnny Walker also won on the UFC 332 card in his heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin. Walker stopped Parkin with a knee at 3:35 of the first round, giving him an immediate victory after moving up from light heavyweight. His performance added another significant Brazilian result to the October opening UFC card.

UFC Edmonton Has Implications for Silva

UFC Vegas 122 followed on 10 October, with Brendan Allen submitting Christian Leroy Duncan with a fifth-round rear-naked choke. Attention then shifts to Edmonton on 17 October, where Joaquin Buckley faces Mike Malott in the main event.

Erin Blanchfield faces Jasmine Jasudavicius in a matchup that could shape the developing 125-pound title picture. With Silva only recently becoming champion, the leading contenders can strengthen their claims before she defends her title. A convincing win in Edmonton would put either fighter in a stronger position.

UFC 333 Brings Two Title Fights

UFC 333 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on 24 October, with Alexander Volkanovski scheduled to defend the featherweight championship against Movsar Evloev. Evloev's grappling poses a difficult challenge for the champion and gives him a chance to turn his unbeaten record into a UFC title. The matchup is one of the biggest fights remaining on the October schedule.

Petr Yan against Merab Dvalishvili adds a bantamweight championship contest to the card. Both have considerable experience at the top of the division, making the fight another important test of the current hierarchy. Brazilian viewers will have an unusually early event, with the main card scheduled for the afternoon in Brasília.

Renato Moicano then headlines UFC Vegas 123 against Tom Nolan on 31 October. Moicano brings far more UFC experience to the lightweight matchup, while Nolan can improve his standing by defeating an established opponent. November continues the Brazilian involvement when Gabriel Bonfim faces Sean Brady on 7 November, followed by UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden on 14 November with Caio Borralho on the card.

Pantoja Still Has Reasons to Continue

Pantoja's interview with Stake before UFC 331 helps you decide whether retirement is really his most likely next step. Rather than talk about winding down his career, he said he wants to fight more often and named opponents he would be interested in facing. He was also positive about changes to his training and the balance he had found between fighting and family life.

That doesn't mean he will automatically continue after another loss to Van. The situation is different now because Pantoja is unlikely to receive another immediate opportunity to reclaim the championship. He has to decide whether facing contenders and trying to earn another title shot still appeals to him.

What Comes Next for Pantoja?

Pantoja's next appearance should answer questions that UFC 331 couldn't. Van has shown he can beat the Brazilian over five rounds, but that doesn't show how Pantoja compares to the rest of the top flyweights. A fight against another highly ranked opponent would provide that test.

A win would put Pantoja back on the right path and give him a realistic basis to pursue another championship opportunity. Another defeat would leave him with three consecutive losses and make the retirement discussion much harder to dismiss. At 36, he doesn't have unlimited time to rebuild his position through a long sequence of fights.