The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has officially confirmed a flyweight title rematch in the division where Kazakhstani fighter Asu Almabaev competes. Current champion Joshua Wang will face former champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331, scheduled for September 19 in Los Angeles. This bout will headline the event, according to infohub.kz.
This will be the second meeting between Wang and Pantoja. In December 2025 at UFC 323, the Brazilian lost the title under unusual circumstances: during an exchange, he fell awkwardly and injured his arm, leading to the fight being stopped just 26 seconds into the first round. As a result, Wang was awarded a technical knockout victory.
After winning the title, the 24-year-old from Myanmar has already made one successful defense. In May at UFC 328, he defeated Japan's Tatsuro Taira via technical knockout in the fifth round. Pantoja, meanwhile, has recovered from his injury and now has the opportunity to reclaim the belt he held since 2023.
Asu Almabaev is also closely following the championship race. The Kazakhstani is ranked seventh in the UFC media rankings in the flyweight division and continues to rise after a series of successful performances.
Almabaev's last fight took place on June 27 at a UFC event in Baku. He faced American Charles Johnson and secured a submission victory in the third round. This win was his 24th in professional MMA and his seventh in the UFC.
After his only UFC loss to Manel Kape in March 2025, Almabaev has won three consecutive bouts – against Jose Ochoa, Alex Perez, and Johnson. The 32-year-old Kazakhstani's overall record stands at 24 wins and three losses.
UFC 331 will also feature a five-round lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy. This fight will be the co-main event of the card.