Veteran featherweights collide on Saturday night as Patricio Pitbull faces Dooho Choi at UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 in Los Angeles, California.
Pitbull (37–9, 1–2 UFC) has struggled to find his footing since arriving from Bellator and is coming off a unanimous-decision loss to Aaron Pico at UFC 327 in April. Choi (17–4–1, 6–3–1 UFC) is unbeaten since returning to the promotion in 2023, riding the momentum from three straight stoppage victories.
Choi enters as a heavy -278 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Pitbull is a +225 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi Fight Preview
Patricio Pitbull
- 37–9 (1–2 UFC)
- 13–2 (T)KO
- 11–2 SUB
Patricio Pitbull — a former two-division champion with Bellator MMA — has struggled to recapture his past glory within the UFC. The Brazilian has dropped two of his first three fights in the Octagon, and he certainly looks his ripe old age of 39.
While still dangerous in the grappling department, Pitbull has consistently appeared a step behind his competition and offered limited output on the feet. Although he remains durable, he has shown a tendency to fade in the later rounds. On Saturday night, Pitbull will be eager to prove that his UFC arrival didn’t come too late.
Dooho Choi
- 17–4–1 (6–3–1 UFC)
- 14–2 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
Mandatory military service and severe injuries kept Dooho Choi away from the Octagon for almost four years. But you probably couldn’t tell by how he’s been fighting since his return; “The Korean Superboy,” 35, is unbeaten across four fights since coming back to the UFC in February 2023.
In that span, Choi’s explosive fight style has only grown sharper and more dangerous. Behind his crisp boxing and nasty body shots, he has put away each of his last three opponents in a torrid stretch, punctuated by a second-round stoppage win over Daniel Santos in May. While his grappling remains a question mark — 59 percent takedown defense — Choi enters Saturday night with considerable size advantage (four inches in height, three in reach) and a full head of steam.
Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi Pick, Best Bet
Dooho Choi’s career resurgence should continue at UFC 331. He enters Saturday night as the younger, bigger, fresher, and more powerful fighter compared to Patricio Pitbull, who has underwhelmed since joining the UFC. Choi’s more dynamic skill set should help him keep the fight standing, where he can pepper his opponent with jabs, body shots, and potential fight-enders. Considering his dominant run of form, Choi looks poised to leave Los Angeles with his fourth straight win by knockout or TKO.
