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UKUFC 331 Odds: Van Favored to Retain Flyweight Title
The latest UFC 331 odds favor Joshua Van (-132) to retain his Flyweight championship against former champion Alexandre Pantoja. In the co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan (-335) is the betting favorite over Mauricio Ruffy.
It all goes down on the 12-fight UFC 331 card in Los Angeles. I break down the current odds and my picks for this weekend’s fights in the guide below.
Latest UFC 331 Betting Odds
Here are the latest UFC 331 betting odds from Lucky Rebel.
| Matchup | Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|---|
| Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito | Joanderson Brito (-400) | Giga Chikadze (+310) |
| Casey O’Neill vs. Eduarda Moura | Casey O’Neill (-220) | Eduarda Moura (+180) |
| Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Bruno Ferreira | Edmen Shahbazyan (-165) | Bruno Ferreira (+141) |
| Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz | Ryan Gandra (-525) | Ozzy Diaz (+400) |
| Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joo Sang Yoo | JooSang Yoo (-245) | Michael Aswell Jr. (+200) |
| Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne | Robelis Despaigne (-700) | Tai Tuivasa (+500) |
| Charles Jourdain vs. Marlon Vera | Charles Jourdain (-220) | Marlon Vera (+185) |
| Iwo Baraniewski vs. Alonzo Menifield | Iwo Baraniewski (-245) | Alonzo Menifield (+200) |
| Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf | Gable Steveson (-2000) | Sean Sharaf (+1000) |
| Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo-ho Choi | Doo Ho Choi (-270) | Patricio Pitbull (+220) |
| Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy | Arman Tsarukyan (-335) | Mauricio Ruffy (+270) |
| Joshua Van (c) vs. Alexandre Pantoja | Joshua Van (c) (-132) | Alexandre Pantoja (+111) |
Van (17-2) is a -132 favorite to retain his Flyweight championship in the UFC 331 main event. He faces former champ Pantoja, who is a +11 underdog in his first fight since losing the title.
In their first fight, Van won early in the first round after Pantoja hyper-extended his elbow while attempting to stop himself from following. Pantoja was favored in their first meeting, but Van has an implied win probability of 56.9% for Saturday’s rematch.
The biggest favorite on the card is Gable Steveson, listed at -2000 against Sean Sharaf (+1000). Steveson is 4-0 after winning his UFC debut against Elisha Ellison at UFC 329.
Lucky Rebel has competitive markets for every fight on Saturday’s 12-match card. Read our Lucky Rebel review for more information about this MMA sportsbook.
UFC 331 Main and Co-Main Event Preview
- Arman Tsarukyan (-335) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (+270)
- Joshua Van (c) (-132) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (+111)
Arman Tsarukyan is a heavy favorite at -335 odds for his upcoming co-main event fight against Mauricio Ruffy (+270). Tsarukyan has won five fights in a row and could be one win away from a shot at the Lightweight belt.
Ruffy is an underdog, but he should not be overlooked. He is 5-1 in the UFC, with his only loss coming via a face crank courtesy of Benoit Saint Denis. Four of his five wins in the Octagon have been via knockout.
Tsarukyan is a gifted striker, too, and has nine knockouts on his resume. Ruffy has 3 KOs total, including nine in the first round.
The biggest difference maker in this fight should be Tsarukyan’s grappling. Ruffy is 0-1 in fights decided by submission. Tsarukyan, on the other hand, is 6-0 and is coming off his first submission win in the UFC. He submitted Dan Hooker with an arm triangle choke at a UFC Fight Night in November.
In the main event, Joshua Van puts the 125-pound belt on the line against Alexandre Pantoja. Van won the belt from Pantoja after the latter hyperextended his elbow less than a minute into the fight.
This is Pantoja’s first fight since losing the title. Van has fought once since then, a successful title defense against Tatsuro Taira.
A standup fight should favor Van. However, Pantoja is the better grappler with 12 submission wins to Van’s two. The champion faced a similar disadvantage against Taira, but he managed to stop 13 of Taira’s 21 takedown attempts.
Best Bets for UFC 331
- Casey O’Neill (-220)
- Doo-ho Choi (-270)
Casey O’Neill (11-2) is a -220 favorite over Eduarda Moura (12-2) for their upcoming Women’s Flyweight fight. O’Neill has won back-to-back fights and is 6-2 in the UFC. Moura, on the other hand, is coming off a loss to Cong Wang and has missed weight for three of her last five fights.
Despite her struggles, Moura has never been stopped and is ranked 14th in the UFC Women’s Flyweight division. Both of her career losses have come via decision. O’Neill, who has six career finishes, four of them in the UFC, will attempt to change that.
O’Neill’s best skill is her striking, and keeping the fight off the ground will help her avoid becoming Moura’s sixth submission win. If she uses her reach advantage correctly, O’Neill should get the win this weekend.
Doo-ho Choi (-270) is another favorite to back this weekend. He faces Patricio Pitbull (+220) in the third fight of Saturday’s main card.
Pitbull has struggled in the UFC, going 1-2 in the Octagon since joining the promotion, with all his fights being decided by the judges. His struggles extended beyond just his time in the UFC, as Pitbull is 2-4 in his last six fights.
Choi is riding a three-fight winning streak in which he has finished every opponent. His TKO win over Daniel Santos in May also earned Choi Fight of the Night honors. Choi’s reach advantage sets him up to get his 15th career KO win against a struggling Pitbull this weekend.
Top UFC 331 Upset Picks
- Michael Aswell Jr. (+200)
- Alonzo Menifield (+200)
Michael Aswell Jr. (+200) is a moderate underdog against JooSang Yoo (-245)for their prelim fight this weekend. Aswell is 1-3 so far in the UFC, and all five of his career losses have come via decision.
Yoo is 1-1 in the Octagon after his KO loss against Danial Santos at UFC 320. He has had nearly a year to recover from that loss, but another matchup against a skilled striker like Aswell could be troublesome for Yoo.
Aswell is 6-0 in fights decided by knockout, and I think he ends his current skid with a KO win over Yoo.
I also think Alonzo Menifield is a great pick to secure an upset win. Menifield is a 2-1 underdog against Iwo Baraniewski (-245). Baraniewski (9-0) is undefeated, including a 3-0 start to his UFC career, and has finished all of his opponents in the first round.
This fight should be decided on the feet. Menifield has 10 career KO wins, and Baraniewski has seven so far in his short career. Based on their recent track records, this should be a short fight as well.
Menifield’s reach advantage could give him the edge he needs to end Baraniewski’s undefeated start.
Full UFC 331 Fight Card Predictions
Gable Steveson is the heaviest favorite on the UFC 331 card at -2000. Fighting so quickly after his win at UFC 329 is a concern, but Steveson suffered minimal damage in his first-round win. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist, is arguably the best wrestler in the UFC and will use his grappling to pick up the win this Saturday.
Tsarukyan (-335) will beat Ruffy in their co-main event fight this weekend. Ruffy has the size advantage, but Tsarukyan’s submission skills will give him the edge if and when this fight goes to the ground.
Van (-132) is the best bet to win the main event at UFC 331. Pantoja’s best chance to pull off the upset is by submission, but Van showed at UFC 328 that he can defend takedowns. Van will keep the fight standing and earn his second successful title defense.
UFC 331 Betting Tips and Strategy
Consider these tips and strategies before placing your UFC 331 wagers.
Long Layoffs Can Be Costly
Several fighters on this weekend’s card, including Pantoja and Yoo, are fighting for the first time in nine months or more. Recovery time is important, but too much time away can lead to ring rust. Also, it is difficult to project how fighters returning from injury will look in their first fights back.
Factor in Weight Cutting Issues
Competing at the right weight can make or break a fighter’s career. Fighters who have consistently struggled to make weight, like Eduarda Moura, are likely to continue to struggle until they move up to a heavier weight class. It is hard to win a fight after attempting a challenging weight cut.
Where to Bet on UFC 331
Lucky Rebel has profitable betting markets for every fight on Saturday’s UFC 331 event in Los Angeles. You can bet on all 12 matchups, including my favorite bet of the weekend: Arman Tsarukyan (-335) to beat Mauricio Ruffy.
Members of the sportsbook can take advantage of an exciting welcome bonus to help fund their wagers this weekend. Create a new Lucky Rebel account to claim your first deposit bonus and bet on your UFC 331 predictions.
