Alexander Volkanovski Drops Bold Prediction for Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2
Alexandre Pantoja gets a shot at redemption against Joshua Van at UFC 331 and Alexander Volkanovski already has his picks for the main even locked in
When flyweight champion Joshua Van enters the Octagon at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for UFC 331, he will be looking to silence any remaining doubters surrounding his title reign. Standing across from him is former flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja, who is eager for redemption after their initial meeting at UFC 323 ended abruptly due to an arm injury just 26 seconds into the opening round.
While many pundits view the rematch as a razor-thin matchup between Pantoja’s elite grappling and Van’s relentless volume striking, former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is leaning firmly toward the young titleholder to retain his belt.
Analyzing the marquee matchup on his channel, Volkanovski offered his assessment of the upcoming 125-pound championship showdown. The Australian standout believes Van’s high-octane striking and crisp boxing will pose massive problems for Pantoja if the veteran tries to force early chaos in the main event.
“I feel like Joshua Van can do good enough and do a lot of damage, and some serious damage if Pantoja approaches this the wrong way,” Volkanovski stated during his fight breakdown.
High Pace Meets High Stakes
Volkanovski's breakdown hinges on the contrasting styles and energy levels both men bring into the Octagon. Pantoja built his championship legacy on aggressive, forward pressure, wild scrambles, and relentless submission threats, a grueling style that earned him four consecutive title defenses against the division's top contenders. However, at 36 years old, marching straight through heavy fire against a sharp, high-volume striker like Van can prove to be a highly dangerous recipe.
The 24-year-old champion proved he possesses true championship mettle in his first title defense, stopping rising contender Tatsuro Taira via fifth-round knockout at UFC 328. Van lands an extraordinary 8.86 significant strikes per minute in the UFC, combining blistering speed with deep-water endurance.
If Pantoja attempts to charge recklessly into range without properly setting up his takedown entries, Volkanovski foresees the young champ pinpointing counters and inflicting severe damage on the feet.
A victory for Van would firmly establish his era at 125 pounds and permanently erase any lingering debate from their bizarre first encounter. On the flip side, Pantoja is aiming to join former champions Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo as the only flyweights in UFC history to reclaim the belt.
With Volkanovski dropping a bold forecast, the pressure is squarely on Pantoja to adjust his approach, while Van gets the ultimate platform to prove his championship reign is only just getting started in front of a packed crowd.
