Van Retains UFC Flyweight Title Over Pantoja

Joshua Van beat Alexandre Pantoja for the second time in 10 months to retain his UFC flyweight championship and silence any lingering questions about December's controversial result.

Van dominated the rematch from the opening bell, controlling distance and landing clean combinations throughout the bout. The victory, reported by ESPN, came less than a year after his initial win over the Brazilian raised eyebrows among fans who felt the decision could have gone either way.

Van Validates December Victory With Dominant Performance

The repeat outcome erases doubt about the first meeting between the two flyweights. Where December's fight featured close rounds and split opinions, Saturday's performance left no room for debate. Van's conditioning held through the championship rounds as Pantoja struggled to close distance and initiate his grappling game.

Pantoja entered the rematch hoping to reclaim the belt he lost in their previous encounter. Instead, he absorbed a career-defining loss that pushes Van further ahead in the flyweight division. The champion now looks toward fresh contenders after clearing the Pantoja chapter twice in one calendar year.

Van's next title defense remains unscheduled as the UFC flyweight picture reshapes itself heading into summer.

Reported via:

• ESPN MMA — Van beats Pantoja again to validate win from December