Last-Minute Van vs Pantoja 2 Prediction & Prop Bets | UFC 331

• Joshua Van defends the flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja in tonight’s UFC 331 main event
• Van is a -170 favorite at BetMGM in a rematch of a first fight cut short by injury
• See my last-minute Van vs Pantoja 2 prediction and prop bets below

The UFC 331 main card is rolling at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and the flyweight title main event is set to walk out around 10:50 pm ET. Joshua Van puts his belt on the line against Alexandre Pantoja, the man he took it from.

Their first meeting barely happened. Pantoja dislocated his elbow in a scramble less than 30 seconds in, handing Van a first-round finish nobody wanted to see that way. Now we get the version that goes rounds.

Here’s my last-minute Van vs Pantoja 2 prediction and prop bets.

Van vs Pantoja 2 Prediction

I’m backing the champ. Van is 24, throws elite volume, and just proved his grappling has caught up during a five-round war with Tatsuro Taira. Pantoja is 36, coming off nine months out with an elbow injury, and depends on a fast pace that tends to fade with age.

Pantoja will get takedowns here, especially early. The problem is what he does with them. His game runs on chasing back takes rather than heavy ground strikes, and Van’s get-ups are built to shut that down. Against Taira, Van actually out-landed his opponent on the mat despite giving up far more control time.

The projections lean Van too. He lands 8.4 significant strikes per minute to Pantoja’s 4.4, connects at a 57% clip, and his output climbs deep into fights while Pantoja’s stays flat. Add 75% takedown defense and the picture is a champion built to win the exchanges that decide close rounds.

Van should stuff enough early shots, drag Pantoja into deep water, and pull away on the feet as the fight wears on. A late finish is on the table given his pace, but the cleaner read is a clear decision on the scorecards.

• Van vs Pantoja 2 Pick: Joshua Van by Decision (+325 at BetMGM)

Van vs Pantoja 2 Prop Bets

If you’re on a Van decision, the volume props pay you more for the same script. Van lands 8.4 significant strikes per minute to Pantoja’s 4.4, and his output climbs as fights go long. Over 25 minutes against a fighter who eats shots on the way in, the strikes pile up fast.

Van 150+ significant strikes sits at +225, and it lines up cleanly with the decision read. Pantoja has to close distance to grapple, and he takes damage doing it. Every failed takedown is another exchange where Van adds to the count.

The last prop leans on both men’s durability. Pantoja has never been legitimately finished, his only stoppage loss the freak elbow injury against Van. The fight reaching Round 5 pays +135, and with Van a slow starter and Pantoja tough to put away, the championship rounds are live.

• Prop Pick: Joshua Van 150+ Significant Strikes (+225 at BetMGM)
• Prop Pick: Fight Reaches Round 5 (+135 at BetMGM)

Van vs Pantoja 2 Odds

Van sits at -170, an implied probability of about 63%. Pantoja comes in at +140, or roughly 42%. The method numbers tell you where the styles diverge: Van’s best finishing path is a KO at +150, while Pantoja’s is a submission at +275, the back-take threat that carried his title run.

The duration markets back the long-fight read. The bout going the distance pays +165, and Round 5 starting sits at +135. Both point to a competitive fight that reaches the scorecards, which is where my card is built.

Odds as of September 19th at BetMGM. Grab a BetMGM promo code for UFC 331 or browse UFC betting apps.

How to Watch Van vs Pantoja 2

UFC 331 goes down tonight, Saturday, September 19th, from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The main card is underway, and as the headliner, Van and Pantoja should make their walks around 10:50 pm ET, though that depends on how the earlier fights play out.

If you’re locking in a last-minute bet, get it down before the walkouts. Lines can shift late once the live money comes in, and the props in particular tend to move as tip-off nears.