UFC 331 live results, highlights and play-by-play

· Yahoo Sports

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live TONIGHT (Sat., Sept. 19, 2026)with UFC 331 taking place at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Ca., streaming exclusively live on Paramount+. The main event is a rematch for the UFC Flyweight title with Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2.

UFC 331 Preview

Joshua Van gets a chance to defend his UFC Flyweight title for the second time tonight when he meets former champion Alexandre Pantoja. Van was, of course, awarded the belt after Pantoja went down with an arm injury early in their first fight last year. Since then Van solidified his title as champion by beating Tatsuro Taira in one of the fights of the year. This is Pantoja’s first fight back since suffering that arm injury.

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The co-main event tonight is a five round non-title fight in the Lightweight division. Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffycould fast-track someone to a title shot with Justin Gaethje. For Tsarukyan that would be his second title shot, if you count the one he lost on weigh-in day (due to a back injury) before he was supposed to fight Islam Makhachev. Ruffy has never been this close to a title shot, but a win here on the back of his White House demolition job on Michael Chandler would be a big statement.

The main card is rounded out by Patricio Pitbull vs. Doohoo Choi,Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewskiand Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf. This will be Pitbull’s final fight on his current UFC deal. Iwo Baraniewski is worth keeping tabs on. He’s won all his UFC fights so far in electrifying fashion. Steveson is, again, on course to be one of the biggest favorites in MMA betting history, that’s in spite of him being just 4-0 as a pro.

The Featured ‘Prelim’ tonight is Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain in the Bantamweight division. That portion of the card also has Robelis Despaigne vs. Tai Tuivasa, Michael Aswell vs. Joo Sang Yoo and Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz.

The Early ‘Prelims’ kick us off with Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito. The early part of the show also includes Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura and Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira.

UFC 331 Start Date and Time

It’s standard operating procedure tonight. Here’s when the various portions of the latest numbered event goes live:

  • UFC 331’s Early “Prelims” will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET.
  • UFC 331’s Late “Prelims” are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET.
  • UFC 331’s PLE main card goes live at 9 p.m. ET.
  • All of UFC 331 airs on Paramount+, which you can stream here.

The live blog will get underway at 5:30 p.m. ET, just before the first fight. Come in and chat with your fellow Maniacs in the comments.

UFC 331 QUICK RESULTS

Main card
  • 125 lbs.: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja
  • 155 lbs.: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
  • 145 lbs.: Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo Ho Choi
  • 205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
  • 265 lbs.: Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
Late ‘Prelims’
  • 135 lbs.: Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain
  • 265 lbs.: Robelis Despaigne def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • 145 lbs.: Michael Aswell Jr. def. Joo Sang Yoo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • 185 lbs.: Ryan Gandra def. Ozzy Diaz by TKO (punches), round 1 (2:04) — HIGHLIGHTS
Early ‘Prelims’
  • 185 lbs.: Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • 125 lbs.: Casey O’Neill def. Eduarda Moura by submission (armbar), round 1 (3:22) — HIGHLIGHTS
  • 145 lbs.: Joanderson Brito def. Giga Chikadze by KO (hammerfists), round 1 (0:57) — HIGHLIGHTS

UFC 331 PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES

Prelims

Tai Tuivasavs. Robelis Despaigne: Despaigne slung punches from his hip to start things off and tagged Tuivasa a bunch. Tuivasa landed some big shots of his own then. Tuivasa pulled Despaigne down on top of him in the first, but got out of trouble. He then got on top of Despaigne, who was exhausted by that point. Tuivasa hurt Despaigne with an overhand left in the second. He then pressed him into the fence while Joe Rogan said Despaigne might have “the worst cardio ever.” Despaigne then hit a desperation judo throw into side mount. He then tried to take a nap there. In the third, both were dead on their feet, but they were willing to throw. Tuivasa landed a nice shot, but also got hip tossed towards the end of the round. Despaigne landed some good ground and pound this time. That was likely enough to get Despaigne the round and the fight.

Official decision: Robelis Despaigne def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joo Sang Yoo: The crowd weren’t in love with this one. These two patiently traded strikes in a pretty low intensity kickboxing match for the first two rounds (which Aswell was clearly winning). In the third, Yoo felt some urgency and started to land some big shots and then got a takedown. Yoo needed a finish then, but didn’t do nearly enough to make one happen.

Official decision: Michael Aswell Jr. def. Joo Sang Yoo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz: Gandra took a minute or so to size up Diaz. After that he blitzed forwards and rocked Diaz with a combo. Gandra didn’t wait around and admire his work, he kept throwing and put Diaz down along the fence for yet another quick TKO.

Official decision: Ryan Gandra def. Ozzy Diaz by TKO (punches), round 1 (2:04)

Early Prelims

Edmen Shahbazayan vs. Brunno Ferreira: Ferreira looked lean, but it took him until the third round to look mean. Shahbazyan kept him at bay early with calf kicks. Ferreira responded with teeps to the knee, which Shahbazyan seemed to think was illegal. In the third Ferreira tried to bring the chaos, but it was too little too late.

Official decision: Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura: Wow! O’Neill got taken down off the first kick she threw. Moura then smothered her and was close on an anaconda choke. O’Neill stayed calm, though. After the threat of the choke was over, O’Neill used the butterfly guard to push Moura into the air and then she caught Moura in an armbar on the way down. And then she made her tap!

Official decision: Casey O’Neill def. Eduarda Moura by submission (armbar), round 1 (3:22)

Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito: Chikadze started very well, stinging Brito with a blocked head kick. Chikadze was really flowing after that, but then he slipped on a kick attempt. Brito then got on top of him and unloaded! He put Chikadze out with brutal hammerfists.

Official decision: Joanderson Brito def. Giga Chikadze by KO (hammerfists), round 1 (0:57)

Live stream begins at 5:30 p.m. ET. …

For more UFC 330: “Makhachev vs. Garry” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

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