UFC 323: Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van Preview & Prediction
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Joshua Van looks to close out a fairytale 2025 by securing the belt at flyweight, with champion Alexandre Pantoja aiming to turn away another upstart contender and earn another title defence.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van facts
What time are Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2
What TV channel is UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 main card
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan (Bantamweight)
Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van (Flyweight)
Brandon Moreno vs Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight)
Henry Cejudo vs Payton Talbott (Bantamweight)
Jan Błachowicz vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 prelims
Grant Dawson vs Manuel Torres (Lightweight)
Terrance McKinney vs Chris Duncan (Lightweight)
Maycee Barber vs Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight)
Nazim Sadykhov vs Fares Ziam (Lightweight)
Marvin Vettori vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
Edson Barboza vs Jalin Turner (Lightweight)
Iwo Baraniewski vs Ibo Aslan (Light Heavyweight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Antonio Trocoli (Middleweight)
Muhammad Naimov vs Mairon Santos (Featherweight)
Alexandre Pantoja: Can "The Cannibal" add another contender to his ever growing resume at 125 pounds?
Putting his title on the line for the fifth time since snatching the belt from Brandon Moreno back in 2023, Alexandre Pantoja (30-5) continues to present the gold standard for MMA at 125 pounds despite having turned 35 in April of this year. An unashamed marauder who delights in walking his opponents down, getting in their face, and straight up bullying them, Pantoja's ruthless cardio, iron chin, and well-rounded skillset has seen him decimate flyweight's top contenders with seemingly increasing ease. Currently riding an eight fight win streak, "The Cannibal" hasn't lost a fight in over five years and finished his two most recent challengers in brutal fashion, throttling Kai Asakura and Kai Kara-France into submission for back to back title defence stoppages.
Joshua Van: "The Fearless" looks to put a legendary capstone on 2025 by securing the flyweight strap
Few fighters can lay claim to having had a better 2025 than 24 year old prospect, Joshua Van (15-2). Known for his polished striking and excellent counter-grappling, many wrote "The Fearless" off after a brutal KO loss to Charles Johnson in July 2024, only for Van to come roaring back with a near flawless five win streak. The flyweight's superb run of form culminated in a Fight of the Year candidate decision victory over top 125 pound contender, Brandon Royval, earning Van a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja and a chance to cap off one of the most spectacular MMA success stories of the year.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van prediction
Pantoja is one of the greatest flyweights in MMA history, but Father Time catches up with all fighters eventually. Despite, "The Cannibal's" legendary run of domination, logic points to Pantoja faltering sooner rather than later given his age and the fact he competes at a lower weight class. The question is whether Van is the man capable of seizing his crown.
The tentative answer is "no." While Van has made a career out proving the doubters wrong to date, his victory over Brandon Royval remains the best win of his career by a considerable stretch. By contrast, Pantoja is contentiously one win away from having essentially cleaned out the division, posting victories over virtually ever notable contender that flyweight currently has to offer. Moreover, he's been finishing them with impressive consistency.
Van may be on a five fight win streak, but the best grappler he's fought during that stretch is arguably Cody Durden; a concerning prospect when faced with a takedown threat and submission artist of Pantoja's caliber. Throw in the fact that he's the considerably smaller man here, and things get more difficult still. "The Fearless" could conceivably shuck off "The Cannibal's" grappling and win the striking battle at range, but until someone proves capable of denying Pantoja's relentless pressure style across five rounds, it's hard to bet on it.
This is likely to be a war, with Van's striking vying against Pantoja's grappling for superiority across five rounds. However, when the dust has settled, flyweight will remain "The Cannibal's" division. Pantoja either wins by hard fought decision or decimates Van on the ground in short order.
Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja to win
