UFC Picks and Predictions Today: UFC 331 Best Bets

UFC Best Bets at a Glance

• Alexandre Pantoja Moneyline
• Mauricio Ruffy Moneyline
• Dooho Choi Moneyline

UFC 331 takes center stage on Saturday night with a loaded fight card from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The main event features a rematch between UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and former champ Alexandre Pantoja. Their first meeting ended almost immediately due to an injury suffered by Pantoja, so Saturday's showdown should finally give us some answers at the top of the 125-pound division.

That's not the only intriguing matchup. Arman Tsarukyan meets dangerous striker Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round lightweight co-main event, while Dooho Choi looks to extend his three-fight winning streak against former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull.

Using the UFC odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as a guide, let's dive into the bets that stand out for UFC 331.

All UFC betting odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

UFC 331 Best Bets and Picks for Tonight

Alexandre Pantoja Moneyline (+106)

I'm willing to back Alexandre Pantoja as a slight underdog in the main event.

It's difficult to take much away from the first Van-Pantoja meeting. Pantoja suffered an arm injury during a takedown sequence less than 30 seconds into the fight, handing Van the championship without the two getting a real opportunity to settle things inside the Octagon.

Van has done plenty since then to validate his place atop the division. Most notably, he scored a fifth-round stoppage against Tatsuro Taira, and his striking output is exceptional. Van averages 8.43 significant strikes landed per minute, according to UFC's statistics.

However, this matchup could present a different challenge.

Pantoja's grappling remains one of the biggest weapons in the flyweight division. He owns 12 submission victories, and his ability to take the back might be the central question Van will need to answer. Taira was able to take Van down, but Van repeatedly prevented him from establishing dangerous back control. Pantoja could be more difficult to fend off from those positions.

There's certainly risk involved against a younger, high-volume striker like Van, but I'm intrigued by getting plus money on Pantoja given his grappling ability and championship experience.

Mauricio Ruffy Moneyline (+255)

Arman Tsarukyan is understandably a sizable favorite in Saturday's co-main event, but I think Mauricio Ruffy to win is an appealing bet at +255.

Tsarukyan is one of the best wrestlers at lightweight. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes while absorbing only 1.80 significant strikes per minute, giving him an obvious path to controlling this matchup if he can consistently get Ruffy to the mat.

But Ruffy's upside on the feet makes him an extremely dangerous underdog.

Ruffy lands 4.19 significant strikes per minute with 57% striking accuracy, and 13 of his professional victories have come via knockout. He's coming off stoppage victories against Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler, demonstrating the kind of power that can change a fight in an instant.

The biggest concern is obvious. Benoit Saint Denis exposed Ruffy on the ground in their previous meeting, eventually submitting him in the second round. Tsarukyan is exactly the kind of opponent capable of attacking that weakness.

Still, Ruffy has an 87% takedown-defense rate in his UFC sample, and his striking gives him a legitimate route to an upset if he can force Tsarukyan to spend extended stretches at range.

Tsarukyan deserves to be favored, but at these odds, I'll take a swing on the underdog.

Dooho Choi Moneyline (-250)

For the final bet, let's back Dooho Choi to continue his resurgence against Patricio Pitbull.

Choi has rattled off three consecutive victories, with all three coming by knockout. Most recently, he stopped Daniel Santos in the second round in May.

The striking numbers also point toward Choi.

Choi averages 5.00 significant strikes landed per minute, compared to only 2.77 for Pitbull. Choi has also recorded 14 career knockout victories and averages 0.90 knockdowns per 15 minutes.

Pitbull's experience and well-rounded skill set can't be dismissed. He owns 12 career knockout wins and another 12 submissions, so Choi can't afford to get reckless against a fighter who has spent years competing at a championship level.

But Pitbull is now 39 years old, while Choi has seemingly found his best form after returning from an extended layoff. The combination of Choi's superior offensive volume and recent finishing form makes him my preferred side.

The moneyline requires us to lay a sizable number, but Choi is the fighter I'm comfortable backing to get his hand raised.

UFC 331 Best Bets FAQ

When Is UFC 331?

UFC 331 takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The early prelims begin at 5:30 p.m. ET, the prelims start at 7 p.m. ET, and the main card is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

What Is the Main Event for UFC 331?

Joshua Van will defend the UFC flyweight championship against Alexandre Pantoja in the main event. It's a rematch of their December 2025 meeting, which ended almost immediately after Pantoja suffered an arm injury.

What Is the UFC 331 Co-Main Event?

Arman Tsarukyan will face Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round lightweight bout. Tsarukyan enters as a sizable favorite, while Ruffy brings significant knockout upside into one of the biggest tests of his UFC career.

What Are the Best Bets for UFC 331?

Three bets that stand out for UFC 331 are Alexandre Pantoja's moneyline against Joshua Van, Mauricio Ruffy's moneyline against Arman Tsarukyan, and Dooho Choi's moneyline against Patricio Pitbull. Pantoja and Ruffy offer plus-money upside, while Choi's striking volume and three-fight knockout streak make him an appealing favorite.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.