"Bring out the Pitbull," Choi Doo-ho aims to return to the rankings at UFC 331 in September... Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja flyweight title rematch

*This content was translated by AI.

'Superboy' Choi Doo-ho (35) has confirmed his matchup for UFC 331, where he will challenge to enter the rankings.

Choi Doo-ho is set to face Patricio 'Pitbull' (39, Brazil) at UFC 331 on September 20 (Korean time) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA.

After defeating Daniel Toss (Brazil) via second-round TKO last May, Choi Doo-ho appealed for his next opponent during an octagon interview, saying, "Pitbull, Pitbull. I want to fight Pitbull." Patricio 'Pitbull' is a fighter who must be defeated by any contender aiming to enter the rankings at 15th in the featherweight division.

If Choi Doo-ho defeats Pitbull this time, he will become the first Korean ranked fighter since Jung Chan-sung three years ago. Jung Chan-sung reached as high as third place among Korean fighters before retiring in August 2023.

Pitbull is no easy opponent. With a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record of 46 wins, 37 losses, and 9 defeats, Pitbull has only one win and two losses in the UFC, making his UFC experience limited. However, he is a veteran champion who held titles in both featherweight and lightweight divisions at Bellator, the second-largest MMA organization after the UFC.

Debuting in the UFC in November 2014, Choi Doo-ho built momentum with three consecutive wins. In December 2016, despite losing a decision against Cub Swanson, he delivered a legendary bout that will be remembered in UFC history, further boosting his value.

However, he later fell into a three-fight losing streak and took more than three years off due to military service issues and other concerns, raising fears of ring rust.

After drawing with Kyle Nelson in his February 2024 comeback fight, Choi Doo-ho secured a TKO victory over Bill Algeo in July of the same year with a left hook. He then showcased dominant skills to defeat Nate Landwehr in December and also defeated Toss, riding a three-fight winning streak.

Choi Doo-ho's greatest weapon is his powerful punching ability. All of his UFC victories have been finished by punch KO. Of his 17 professional MMA wins, 14 were by knockout. He has displayed explosive fight performances, earning four Fight of the Night bonuses and two Performance of the Night bonuses in the UFC. Expectations are high that he can continue this momentum in this upcoming matchup ahead of his ranking return.

Like Choi Doo-ho, Yoo Ju-sang also trained alongside Jung Chan-sung to prepare for the tournament. Yoo Ju-sang will return to the octagon approximately 11 months after suffering a KO loss to Daniel Toss at UFC 320 last October. His comeback was originally scheduled for May against Gaston Volanios, but it was delayed due to a toe injury.

Yoo Ju-sang (9 wins, 1 loss), who debuted in the UFC in December 2024, currently holds a record of 1 win and 1 loss. His upcoming opponent, Michael Azwell Jr. (11 wins, 5 losses), is a former PureFC featherweight champion who debuted in the UFC last May with a record of 1 win and 3 losses.

Beyond Choi Doo-ho and Yoo Ju-sang, several matchups that will excite MMA fans are lined up. The most anticipated is the UFC flyweight (56.8 kg) title fight, which promises to be one of the most exciting in UFC history.

Champion Joshua Van (24, Myanmar/USA) will face former champion Alexandre Pantoja (36, Brazil) in a rematch. Their first encounter ended abruptly due to an injury to Pantoja, so there is high anticipation that this time they will have a proper showdown.

Joshua Van, the Myanmar-born UFC flyweight champion (17 wins, 2 losses), aims to solidify his status as the world's top flyweight fighter by delivering another highlight-reel performance. As one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC, Van has captured fans' hearts with victories over Taijiro Tatsu and Brandon Royval, earning bonuses along the way. Now, he seeks to prove that his first win against Pantoja was no fluke and continue an impressive reign as champion.

Pantoja (30 wins, 6 losses) steps back into the octagon with the goal of reclaiming a championship belt he believes he never truly lost. Holding records for most UFC flyweight wins (14), most finishes (8), and most submissions (6), Pantoja has written his own legend with dominant victories over Kai Kara-France, Kairi Asakura, and Brandon Royval. He is now determined to definitively defeat Van and prove he is the greatest fighter of all time.

The co-main event will feature a bout that determines the direction of the UFC lightweight (70.3 kg) title race. Ranked number two contender Arman Sarukyan (29, Russia/Armenia) faces number 10 Maurício Rua (30, Brazil).

Sarukyan (23 wins, 3 losses) is fighting in his comeback match to secure a lightweight title shot. The well-rounded fighter Sarukyan, currently on an impressive five-fight winning streak, has previously secured notable finish victories against Dan Hooker, Beneil Dariush, and Joao Alvarez. Sarukyan aims to dominate Rua, firmly establish himself at the top of the lightweight division, and become the main star of this event.

Maurício Rua (14 wins, 2 losses), known for his explosive striking power, is making a quick comeback with the determination to deliver another stunning finish. With 13 of his 14 wins coming by knockout, Rua has established himself as a fighter who must be taken seriously after defeating Michael Chandler, Rafah El Fizyev, and King Green. He now aims to achieve the biggest victory of his career and challenge for the lightweight title.

UFC 331 will be broadcast live on TVING. The main card begins at 10:00 AM, and the undercard starts at 8:00 AM.

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*This content was translated by AI.