UFC 331 Picks & Predictions: Van vs. Pantoja 2
Stake ambassador Alexandre Pantoja rematches current champion Joshua Van. The card features lots of big fights, with the flyweight title on the line in the main event. We caught up with him for an exclusive interview before UFC 331, which takes place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19. The first fight ended in an unfortunate injury for Pantoja, and he’s keen to win back his belt.
In the co-main event, lightweight title contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy clash, with the winner potentially next in line to challenge Justin Gaethje for the belt. What’s more, the rest of the card is stacked with big names including Patricio Pitbull, Brian Ortega and Gable Steveson. The main card and prelims offer an excellent opportunity to find great odds.
All of the fights at UFC 331 are available to bet on at Stake Sportsbook. The latest MMA betting odds are available now, and there are plenty of betting opportunities on this card. Before you bet, check out our expert opinions and analysis of the upcoming fight card right here at Stake. We base our UFC 331 picks on fighting style matchups, career statistics and recent performances.
UFC 331 main event picks - Van vs. Pantoja 2 (flyweight title)
Alexandre Pantoja was a big favourite the first time these 2 fighters met in December last year. At the time, the flyweight champion had just made an impressive 4th consecutive title defense, submitting Kai Kara-France in round 3. However, just 26 seconds into the fight, Pantoja injured his arm following a takedown. This will be Pantoja’s first fight back after a 9-month absence
After winning the belt from Pantoja, Joshua Van defended the title against Tasuro Taira, earning a Fight of the Night bonus after stopping Taira in the 5th round. In our interview, Pantoja commented on how impressed he was with Van’s performance in that fight. After proving himself as a deserving champion, Van is actually the slight betting favorite this time, though the odds are very close. We didn’t gain many insights from their first fight, because it ended so quickly.
It’s the first time Pantoja has been the challenger since 2023, and we learned in his interview that Pantoja is taking this fight very seriously. He said, “I’ve been training much better now. I have a better diet, I try to sleep better, and I have good people working with me.” He also showed excellent mentality in how he responded to the loss and the injury.
Based on their records, we have to pick Pantoja to win. He has one of the best finish rates in UFC flyweight history, but it could be one of his toughest fights. Van looked exceptional in his run to the title and dominated Tatsuro Taira, but this matchup still tests his takedown defence over five rounds. Still, he has been stopped before, and we’re predicting Pantoja’s experience will make a difference. Pantoja also predicted he’ll win, saying “I’ve trained so hard to put on a great show. I’m going to keep training hard because I don’t want to fall short again”.
Prediction: Pantoja by TKO.
Co-main event picks - Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy (lightweight)
Arman Tsarukyan has been one of the top title contenders in the lightweight division following his win over Charles Oliveira in 2024. His grappling ability is his main strength, and he holds a record of 23-3 with 10 wins and 2 losses in the UFC. However, after pulling out of a title fight against Islam Makhachev in 2025, he’s fought only once in the UFC. Despite this, Tsarukyan is still a big favorite against Mauricio Ruffy according to the UFC 331 odds.
Ruffy has shown exceptional striking ability in his UFC run so far, with fans drawing parallels to early Conor McGregor. Since arriving in the UFC in 2023 off the Contender Series, Ruffy has 5 wins and 1 loss, with all but 1 win by way of knockout. His KO wins include King Green, Rafael Riziev and Michael Chandler. However, he’s shown a weakness to grappling, getting taken down and submitted by Benoit Saint Denis.
Arman Tsarukyan is our pick for the co-main event. He’s proven himself as a top contender, and although he’s had a lack of activity in the octagon, he’s kept himself busy in grappling matches. While Ruffy is dangerous, we’re predicting Tsarukyan can take him down and either submit him or neutralise his striking threat.
Prediction: Tsarukyan by submission
UFC 331 main card predictions
Patrício Pitbull vs. Choi Doo-ho
Pitbull failed to live up to expectations after arriving in the UFC as a former 3-time Bellator champion. He looked too old and slow against Yair Rodriguez and Aaron Pico, though he did beat Dan Ige.
Meanwhile, Choi Doo-ho has come a long way since he entered the UFC in 2015. The Korean Super Boy looked promising before losing 3 in a row. However, after a 3-year hiatus for military service, he’s back and has won his last 3 fights. Choi Doo-ho is the clear betting favorite in this matchup, and we expect him to get another win following his recent finish against Daniel Santos.
Prediction: Choi Doo-ho by decision
Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega
Renato Moicano lost to Brian Ortega when the two fighters first met at featherweight in 2017. That was Moicano’s first loss in professional MMA. He’s since moved up to lightweight, where he’s won 7 and lost 4. Moicano has been the more active of the 2.
Ortega was on a great run when he fought Moicano, stopping 6 of his first 7 opponents before losing to Max Holloway in a title fight. Following that loss, he’s had 2 wins and 4 losses, although those have all been to top-ranked fighters in the featherweight division. This will be Ortega’s first fight at lightweight, and he’s the betting underdog based on his recent performances. Ortega has an elite submission game, as he showed with his arm triangle choke against Yair Rodriguez. However, his inactivity creates some uncertainty. We’re predicting that Ortega will look better without having to deal with a brutal weight cut.
Prediction: Ortega by submission.
Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski
Alonzo Menifield has 11 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw in the UFC, with a 45% KO/TKO rate. In his last six fights, he has 3 wins and 3 losses, with his most recent being a round 1 stoppage over Mingyang Zhang. He’s an underdog in this matchup.
Iwo Baraniewski is a relative newcomer to the UFC, with just 3 fights since joining from the Contender Series in 2025. However, he won all 3 by round 1 KO. The light heavyweight prospect could become a future title challenger in the division, and we’re backing him to stop Menifeld in this fight.
Prediction: Baraniewski by KO/TKO
Selected prelim picks
Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
Steveson has just 1 fight in the UFC, but he’s already attracted a lot of attention. The Olympic gold medalist wrestler is highly touted as a future title contender and won by round 1 KO in his UFC debut. He’s a huge betting favourite against Sean Sharaf, and we predict he’ll continue his win streak.
Prediction: Steveson by KO/TKO
Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain
Marlon Vera was once one of the highest-ranked fighters in the bantamweight division and beat former champion Sean O’Malley. However, he’s currently on a 4-fight losing streak. He’s an underdog against #12-ranked Charles Jourdain. We’re predicting Jourdain to get the win here, but Vera will put up a tough fight with his UFC career on the line.
Prediction: Jourdain by decision
How to bet on UFC 331 at Stake
You’ll find UFC betting odds on all the fights at UFC 331 at Stake, and we also offer free live streams. Here’s how to start betting on this event:
Sign up at Stake or log in with your password or secure passkey.
Make a deposit using any of the available payment methods.
Open the event page, search for the fighter you want to bet on, or use the menu to look up MMA > UFC > UFC 331 to see all live and upcoming fights.
Select any fight to see all the available betting lines, including moneyline odds, method of victory, total rounds and live betting.
Read our UFC 331 predictions for expert opinions and analysis.
Choose your best bets to add to your bet slip, then enter your stake and confirm to place the bet.
Select the live stream button to watch the event live for free.
If you are new to sports betting, our guide explains available betting types, how to understand odds, and strategies you can apply. Our MMA betting guide also breaks down the rules, major tournaments, bet types, and tips to consider when placing wagers on the UFC.
While betting on UFC 331 at Stake, you can enjoy competitive betting odds and exciting promotions. Our sports betting promotions include the split decision insurance promo, which is active on all UFC events. Bet on a fighter to win, and if they lose the fight by split decision, you’ll have your stake refunded. Check the full terms before betting.
You’ll also be able to earn exclusive rewards from our Stake VIP Club as you’re placing bets. The VIP FAQ page has more details on how to receive rakeback, reload bonuses, and your own VIP host.
Follow our responsible betting guidelines to stay in control while enjoying the fights, and stay Stake Smart.