Van and Pantoja both predict stoppages in UFC 331 flyweight title rematch

Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja have each declared they will stop the other when they meet in a UFC flyweight title rematch at UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Pantoja (30-6) is chasing to reclaim the 125-pound belt he lost to Van (17-2), and both camps say they have identified exploitable weaknesses heading into the five-round main event.

Pantoja’s muay thai coach at American Top Team, Anderson Franca, says the Brazilian has been through an exceptional training camp and arrives with a layered game plan. Franca expects Van to try to keep the fight on the feet, wary of Pantoja’s grappling, but insists that strategy will not be enough to protect the champion.

“Van’s fight with Taira gave us a lot of elements to study in terms of how he might approach this fight,” Franca said. “We have Plan A and Plan B. We’re bringing some surprises. Pantoja is extremely motivated and our expectations couldn’t be better. This was a particularly good training camp. Parrumpa really pushed his conditioning so he would be able to go hard for all five rounds if necessary. I believe Joshua Van will want to keep the fight standing and emphasize his boxing. I think he’ll be concerned about Pantoja’s grappling, but Pantoja can surprise him on the feet as well. Still, I believe Pantoja will get the finish in the fourth round.”

Van, 24, is equally bullish. The reigning champion says he has spotted a flaw in Pantoja’s game that his team intends to exploit, and he is not intimidated by the former champion’s wrestling credentials — going as far as to suggest he could be the one to land a submission.

“We work on defending that position, but maybe I’ll be the one who gets him in the rear-naked choke,” Van said. “I showed with Taira I’m not scared of the ground; I’ll look for a sub if it’s there. We’ve studied him and seen a little hole that he has in his game that we are gonna capitalize on. There’s a couple of things I can’t speak on, but it’s going to be done within three rounds.”

The first meeting between the two flyweights produced a result that reset the division’s hierarchy. The rematch, with both fighters predicting an early finish, sets up one of the more intriguing title fights on the UFC calendar this autumn.