UFC 331 week: Van-Pantoja 2 tops a loaded card

Fight week is here for UFC 331 in Los Angeles, with a finalized card, a tense Thursday faceoff and weigh-ins to come Saturday. Away from the Octagon, the UFC booked a return to Qatar, Khamzat Chimaev spoiled a Colby Covington superfight ahead of RAF 13, and Tom Aspinall retreated from public life while his eye heals.

UFC 331 fight week opens with Van-Pantoja 2 and a finish-heavy card

Fight week is underway at Crypto.com Arena, where champion Joshua Van (17-2) defends the flyweight title Saturday against Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) in a rematch of their 26-second injury bout from December. At Thursday's press conference faceoff, Pantoja stayed stone-faced while Van grinned throughout. Below the main event sit a five-round Tsarukyan-Ruffy co-main, Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi, and Gable Steveson's second UFC outing, on a 12-fight card with an unusually high career finish rate. It marks the UFC's first return to the LA arena in eight years.

Why it matters: Van can convert a fluke-injury title win into a legitimate reign; Pantoja can become just the third two-time UFC flyweight champion. The rematch settles a question the first meeting never answered.

UFC books return to Qatar for Nov. 21 in Doha

The UFC and Visit Qatar announced a Fight Night at ABHA Arena in Doha on Nov. 21, the promotion's second event in the country after the November 2025 debut headlined by Arman Tsarukyan's submission of Dan Hooker. Tickets go on sale Oct. 9, and the card is expected to stream on Paramount+. No bouts have been announced yet. Qatar becomes the third Middle Eastern country to host the UFC, alongside the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters: A second straight year in Doha signals the UFC is locking in another annual Middle East stop as its regional footprint keeps expanding.

Chimaev leaks Covington superfight as RAF 13 goes down tonight

At the RAF 13 press conference, Khamzat Chimaev appeared to accidentally confirm a wrestling match with Colby Covington at RAF's planned Abu Dhabi debut, saying "we're going to wrestle in Abu Dhabi" before catching himself with "maybe I announced that too early." It remains unofficial and hinges on Friday night's Miami card, where Covington defends his RAF cruiserweight crossover title against Belal Muhammad and Chimaev rematches Gilbert Burns more than four years after their UFC 273 war. Muhammad claims Covington has taken out a restraining order in anticipation of trouble; Luke Rockhold also faces UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer on the card.

Why it matters: A Chimaev-Covington bout would be the biggest draw in RAF's short history, and it underscores how top UFC names increasingly use the wrestling promotion to stay active and paid while the UFC stalls on matchmaking.

Aspinall ends podcast, exits social media, eyes early-2027 return

Days after vacating the heavyweight title, Tom Aspinall wrapped his YouTube podcast and stepped away from social media to focus on recovery from the eye damage suffered in the UFC 321 no-contest with Ciryl Gane. A recent training setback reset his rehab; Ariel Helwani reports the current hope is a return early in 2027, though some insiders speculate retirement. Randy Couture, who fractured his own orbit years ago, sympathized and floated a possible landing spot for Aspinall at Ki MMA.

Why it matters: The 33-year-old was arguably the sport's most dangerous heavyweight; a year-plus on the shelf with no firm timeline leaves the division rebuilding around Gane and whoever emerges next.

Pitbull faces a must-win UFC test against surging Choi

Former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull (1-2 in the UFC) admits he hasn't liked any of his Octagon performances and vows to finally show his potential Saturday against Doo Ho Choi in UFC 331's featured bout. Now 39, Pitbull has dropped decisions to Yair Rodriguez and Aaron Pico around a win over Dan Ige. Choi, the callout initiator, rides a three-fight winning streak, all stoppages, and holds height, reach and pace advantages. A third UFC loss would drop the Brazilian legend to 1-3 and cloud his future in the division.

Why it matters: It's the clearest test yet of whether one of the best featherweights ever to fight outside the UFC has anything left, or whether Father Time has closed the window.

Adesanya backs Ruffy upset over Tsarukyan; N3on joins the corner

The UFC 331 co-main between No. 2 lightweight Arman Tsarukyan and No. 7 Mauricio Ruffy carries obvious title implications, though Dana White won't call it a No. 1 contender fight. Israel Adesanya, who trained around Ruffy at Volkanovski's camp, picked a third-round Ruffy knockout, citing footwork if he stays off the fence. Ruffy says he's built a "champion mentality," while Tsarukyan will add streamer N3on to his corner alongside Khamzat Chimaev over a $50,000 bet, and joked he can't promise he won't get into it with Ruffy at the faceoff.

Why it matters: The winner is the obvious front-runner for the next lightweight shot, but Ilia Topuria's looming return could leave whoever comes out of five rounds waiting on the sidelines.

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