Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van clash at UFC 331 press conference

Flyweight rivals Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van engaged in a heated confrontation during the first UFC 331 press conference in Philadelphia. The tension stems from their previous encounter, where Pantoja lost his title after an early arm injury prevented him from continuing the fight.

During the event, Van claimed that the injury did not change the outcome of their first match, stating, “Had that not happened, I would still whup his ass that day.” Pantoja responded by suggesting Van needs to “wash his mouth,” noting that in Brazil, people must be careful about what they say.

The verbal altercation escalated when Van interrupted Pantoja, leading to a moment where Pantoja had to be restrained by security after moving toward Van. The two are scheduled to compete in Los Angeles on September 19, with Pantoja seeking to reclaim the UFC flyweight championship.