B/R Staff Predictions for UFC 331 Main Card

UFC 331 goes down this Saturday in Los Angeles, and the early signs point to a very exciting night of fights.

The card will be headlined by a flyweight title fight, with champion Joshua Van taking on returning former champ, Alexandre Pantoja. It will be the second time the pair meet in the Octagon, though their first encounter can barely be called a fight, as Pantoja suffered a fluke arm injury less than 30 seconds in, resulting in a TKO loss and the crowning of a new champ. Their rematch will hopefully provide a much more decisive outcome.

The UFC 331 co-main event is also a huge fight, as Arman Tsarukyan takes on Mauricio Ruffy at lightweight. Both men are among the top contenders in their division, but Tsarukyan in particular might just lock up a title shot if he wins impressively.

Before we get to that, we'll get a fan-friendly featherweight fight between former Bellator champ Patricio "Pitbull" Freire and "The Korean Superboy" Doo Ho Choi. The main card will kick off with a heavyweight fight between super prospect Gable Steveson and huge underdog Sean Sharaf, and a light heavyweight clash pitting veteran contender Alonzo Menifield against unbeaten prospect Iwo Baraniewski.

As always, the B/R combat sports squad has you covered for pre-fight predictions. Here's how we see it all going down in LA.

Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja II

Cooper Neill/UFC via Getty Images

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I thought Pantoja would win the first one. I believe he'll win this one. I know Van has won seven straight, including the "win" over Pantoja and a subsequent defense over Tatsuro Taira. But let's not forget Pantoja was on an eight-fight heater before losing his belt.

Pantoja has fought better guys and beaten better guys. I thought he was operating at a higher level in December, and I still believe it.

Prediction: Pantoja by unanimous decision

Adam Kramer: The first time these two fought, we were given only 26 seconds of action.

An elbow injury ended Alexandre Pantoja's night, giving Joshua Van the title belt under deeply unfortunate circumstances. It was weird, and we were deprived of a tremendous fight.

Thank goodness we're getting it again.

Seeing Pantoja as an underdog in the rematch is still frankly jarring. The fact that Van was able to largely handle Tatsuro Taira during his fight in May is likely a good reason.

Beyond his remarkable takedown defense, Van showcased incredible cardio. That will serve him well once again against Pantoja, who has gone the distance in multiple five-round wars over the past few years.

Van's ability to stay on his feet will be crucial, although Pantoja presents a much different style than Taira. He is better equipped to turn his punches and movements into takedowns, and in turn, he will likely try everything in his power to turn those awkward exchanges into potential submissions.

I love what we've seen from Van thus far, although this feels like a different challenge. Pantoja finds an opening and takes full advantage.

Prediction: Pantoja by submission, Rd. 3

Tom Taylor: Looks like I'll be playing devil's advocate on this one.

I like Pantoja and am happy to call him the second-best flyweight in UFC history behind the great Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson. However, I've been on the Van hype train since he first arrived in the UFC, and after his thrilling beatdown of Tatsuro Taira, I'm pretty confident he's reached a new level as a champion.

Van will need to be very careful against Pantoja, particularly when they inevitably hit the mat, but I think his cardio, striking and firepower should carry him to victory over five rounds—assuming Pantoja's legendary durability holds up at 36 years old.

Prediction: Van by unanimous decision

Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Ed Mulholland/UFC via Getty Images

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Another five-rounder in the co-main between two red-hot fighters, and another case—at least to Fitz's oldish eyes—of one guy having simply succeeded on a higher level.

Tsarukyan hasn't lost since 2022. The guys he's handled since then, including Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira, and Dan Hooker, are simply better than anything Ruffy's beaten.

Prediction: Tsarukyan by unanimous decision

Adam Kramer: Let's start with the obvious. There is enormous pressure on Arman Tsarukyan in this fight.

Given that he's fought twice since the start of 2024—working his way into Dana White's doghouse along the way—a loss here could certainly hinder the fresh momentum he's trying to build.

His opponent is not a slouch, either. While Mauricio Ruffy was not initially Tsarukyan's opponent, he's still plenty dangerous. He's won four of his past five fights—the one loss came via Benoit Saint-Denis's submission.

That result feels noteworthy for this fight given the style Tsarukyan is likely to bring. He doesn't have to win by submission, which he did against Dan Hooker last time out. But his wrestling, grappling, and potential submission skills are likely to come into play, and a five-round fight suits his style extraordinarily well.

Ruffy, of course, is certainly dangerous on his feet. But can he stay there? And for how long?

Tsarukyan proves he's one of the sport's dangerous fighters once again.

Prediction: Tsarukyan by Submission, Rd. 2

Tom Taylor: I'm going to be honest. I'm not really sold on Arman Tsarukyan. He's definitely very good, but it's hard for me to forget his decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot, which has aged quite poorly. I also don't trust the guy to show up in top form—or even show up at all—when he seems to spend all his time running around with streamers and influencers.

But I digress. As Adam stated, Tsarukyan seems to have the perfect style to deal with Ruffy. He is an elite grappler—at least as good as Ruffy's recent foil, Benoit Saint-Denis—and should be able to take him down and finish him. Ruffy's recent training with Alexander Volkanovski gives me some confidence that he might be able to pull this one out, and I would definitely love to see it happen. However, the obvious pick is still Tsarukyan inside the distance.

Prediction: Tsarukyan by submission, Rd. 3

Patricio Freire vs. Doo Ho Choi

Cooper Neill/UFC via Getty Images

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Hey, didn't you use to be Patricio Pitbull?

That's got to be the vibe around the 39-year-old Brazilian after three decidedly non-transcendent fights—a win and two losses—in the UFC since he ended his long belt-toting run in the Bellator promotion.

He's gone from facing a former title challenger, Yair Rodriguez, in his octagonal debut to a 35-year-old mid-carder, Doo Ho Choi, who's coming off a win over Daniel Santos and is barely three years clear of a draw with Kyle Nelson.

Prediction: Pitbull by unanimous decision

Adam Kramer: The reality for Patricio Pitbull is pretty simple. He's lost three of his last five fights and has finished only one opponent during that time. He is, of course, a legend regardless of what happens here, but his performances of late, at 39-years-old, don't exactly ooze excellence.

The issue with this particular opponent starts with size and reach. Doo Ho Choi is four inches taller than Pitbull and has a massive reach advantage. Beyond that, he is a more active, dangerous fighter.

Pitbull would be wise to grapple here, though his opponent's danger could prompt another conservative effort.

In this instance, Choi's volume prevails yet again.

Prediction: Choi by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: I'm leaning Choi on this one, largely for the reasons Adam mentioned. The Korean is rangy, powerful, and always has his foot on the gas, which I see causing some serious problems for the unsung legend known as "Pitbull."

Pitbull is apparently still quite durable, having recently survived some heavy fire from Aaron Pico, but I was watching live when he was knocked out by Chihiro Suzuki in the Rizin ring in 2023, so I'm not confident he'll survive three rounds either.

Still, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Prediction: Choi by unanimous decision

Iwo Baraniewski vs. Alonzo Menifield

Chris Unger/UFC via Getty Images

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I was ready and willing to say Menifield was rugged enough and savvy enough to take on a guy on a run of nine straight first-round KOs. But then I remembered Menifield was dusted in 87 seconds by Volkan Oezdemir just 10 months ago, so consider my mind changed.

Prediction: Baraniewski by TKO, Round 1

Adam Kramer: If this fight goes the distance, I will fight Alex Pereira.

In other words, make sure you're not late for this one, because the likelihood of a knockout seems incredibly high.

Alonzo Menifield has the experience, and perhaps that will be the deciding factor. It would behoove him to grapple and close the distance. And pushing Iwo Baraniewski to a second round, something that hasn't happened since 2004, would also be ideal.

The problem? Menifield's chin hasn't been superb of late, and this feels like a legitimate prospect coming into his own. It wouldn't shock me if Baraniewski ended this within two minutes.

Prediction: Baraniewski by TKO, Round 1

Tom Taylor: Looks like we're unanimous on this one.

Menifield is definitely the toughest test of Baraniewski's career so far, but this still looks like it's going to be one-way traffic. Baraniewski has won his last seven fights by first-round stoppage, and Menifield has been knocked out four times since joining the UFC—including a loss to Volkan Oezdemir less than a year ago, as Lyle said.

All of that makes this is a pretty easy call.

Welcome to the light heavyweight top-15, Mr. Baraniewski.

Prediction: Baraniewski by TKO, Round 1

Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf

Ian Maule/Getty Images

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Ever wondered what it felt like to be on a list to be fed to the lions?

Ask Sean Sharaf.

The 33-year-old has been stopped in the second round in two straight fights, and he gets promoted to Saturday's main card to face the rampaging Gable Stevenson, who's won each of four pro fights—including two in the UFC—in less than four minutes.

Prediction: Stevenson by TKO, Round 1

Adam Kramer: The biggest favorite on the card by a wide margin, Gable Stevenson has a chance to once again showcase his evolving skill set against an opponent that, if we're being completely honest, feels wildly outclassed.

Will he wrestle? Will he throw those massive knees we saw in his previous fight against Elisha Ellison? We shall see.

Chances are, he'll probably save the wrestling for when he truly needs it, and this doesn't feel like that moment. Instead, I think we will see him try to put on a show.  Don't blink, because this fight won't last long.

Prediction: Stevenson by TKO, Round 1

Tom Taylor: What an utterly pointless fight this is.

Gable Steveson is arguably the hottest prospect in all of MMA right now. Sean Sharaf is barely above the .500 mark, with stoppage losses in his first two UFC appearances. Whether Steveson chooses to lean on his wrestling or test out his developing striking, he is going to win this one quickly and decisively—and we will learn basically nothing new about him in the process.

Hopefully, the UFC takes off the training wheels for him very soon and matches him up with somebody who actually has the skills to test him. This kind of matchmaking accomplishes nothing.

Prediction: Stevenson by TKO, Round 1