LOS ANGELES -- UFC 331 is a strong contender for the year's best fight card. Los Angeles hosted an ensemble performance on Saturday, where everyone played their role. Most importantly, Arman Tsarukyan cemented himself as Justin Gaethje's biggest threat.
Tsarukyan, the division's No. 2-ranked fighter, entered UFC 331 more popular than he's ever been. After butting heads with UFC brass, Tsarukyan needed to make his case for a title shot undeniable. He did exactly that, knocking out renowned striker Mauricio Ruffy in Round 1.
Anything other than gold would be an insult to a fighter who's done everything he could inside and outside of the Octagon. Then there was the main event, an exciting five-round scrap between UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja. The flyweight division is rarely treated to the dramatic feud spun by these rivals.
Van delivered a star-cementing performance. Even better, there's an obvious title challenger awaiting him. Roll the credits on an Oscar-worthy event in Los Angeles as we piece together a vision board for what's to come.
Manel Kape: It was abundantly clear heading into UFC 331 that Kape should face the winner. Kape has obscene power for a flyweight, finishing his last four opponents. This is a mouth-watering fight between two of the division's best strikers.
Van has finesse; Kape has one-shot power. It's a fight that could go either way, but cannot be boring. Van is about to lead a golden era for the often-overlooked flyweight division.
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