Joshua Van Beats Pantoja in 25-Minute UFC Title Fight
Listen to the story
Joshua Van has defeated Alexandre Pantoja in a five-round title fight at UFC 331.
The fight lasted the full 25 minutes, going the distance through all five rounds.
Title fights in the UFC are usually longer than normal fights because they have five rounds instead of three.
Each round lasts five minutes, which made this an intense and demanding battle for both fighters.
Van's win means he has taken the title from Pantoja, who had held it before this event.
The event, UFC 331, also included other important fights on the same night.
One of these was between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy, two well-known fighters in the sport.
UFC, which stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, is the biggest organization in mixed martial arts.
In this sport, fighters use a mix of skills, including striking and grappling techniques.
The full card, meaning the complete list of fights, drew a lot of attention from fans.
UFC also released behind-the-scenes content called 'Embedded', giving fans a closer look at the fighters before the event.
This helped build excitement for UFC 331 among fans around the world.
The event took place in September 2026 and was watched by fans everywhere.
Vocabulary5 words
- title fight
- a fight for the top prize in a sport
- distance
- the full length of a fight without an early finish
- mixed martial arts
- a sport combining striking and grappling
- grappling
- fighting with holds and control on the ground
- card
- the full list of fights in one event
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A title fight 2. Five 3. Tsarukyan and Ruffy
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Joshua Van has defeated Alexandre Pantoja in a five-round _____ fight at UFC 331.
The fight lasted the full 25 minutes, going the _____ through all five rounds.
Title fights in the UFC are usually longer than normal fights because they have five _____ instead of three.
Each round lasts five minutes, which made this an intense and demanding _____ for both fighters.
Van's win means he has taken the title from _____, who had held it before this event.
The event, UFC 331, also included other important fights on the same _____.
One of these was between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio _____.
UFC, which stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, is the biggest organization in mixed martial _____.
The full _____, meaning the complete list of fights, drew a lot of attention from fans.
UFC also released behind-the-scenes content called 'Embedded', giving fans a closer look at the _____ before the event.
Discussion questions
- Why might a title fight have more rounds than a regular fight?
- What skills do you think are important in mixed martial arts?
- Do you enjoy watching combat sports? Why or why not?
- How might behind-the-scenes content like 'Embedded' affect fan interest in an event?
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