Joshua van - News & Rumors - UFC

UFC 331: Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja main card predictions The UFC returns to Los Angeles, headlined by the flyweight championship

16 HOURS AGO • THEBIGLEAD.COM

Bilal Hasan Has His Eyes Set on a UFC Flyweight Showdown With Joshua Van | Deadspin.com Bilal Hasan discusses his record-breaking 18-day UFC run, his desire to fight Andre Lima and a potential future showdown with Joshua Van.

5 DAYS AGO • DEADSPIN.COM

Set for Pantoja rematch Van will face Alexandre Pantoja in a flyweight bout at UFC 331 on Sep. 19, Marcel Dorff of Heavy on Sports reports.

Impact Van is the reigning champion of the flyweight division after defeating Pantoja via TKO (injury) on Dec. 5 and then successfully defending the title against Tatsuro Taira on April 11. Van has won his last two fights by TKO and has won each of his last seven fights, but facing Pantoja will be a massive test for Van, especially considering how the first bout unfolded.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Belal Muhammad has one interesting take on Joshua Van vs. Manel Kape fight Manel Kape continued his rise in the UFC flyweight division with a great win over Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of the latest card.

JUNE 21 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Discloses knee injury Van revealed after his UFC 328 Flyweight Championship victory that it was a knee injury that forced this bout to originally be rescheduled, and that it remains an issue he continue...

Impact If we take Van's words at face value, it makes his victory Saturday all the more impressive, as he admits he couldn't run or truly do cardio until two weeks before the fight. Later in the interview, he implies that in his original title win over Alexandre Pantoja, he was fighting through an LCL tear, so Van is clearly no stranger to adversity. Next up is likely a rematch with Pantoja, given the long-time champion lost his belt in their first fight due to a relatively fluky injury. That said, nobody is arguing Van's legitimacy as champion any longer after Saturday's FOTN-winning performance. Perhaps both Pantoja and Van are due for some time on the sidelines to get healthy before the inevitable rematch.

MAY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Goes to war in first title defense Van defeated Tatsuro Taira via TKO (Front Kick to the Body and Punches) at 1:32 of Round 5 to retain his flyweight title on Saturday in Newark.

Impact Van came prepared for his grapple-heavy opponent, as he routinely scrambled out of bad positions on the ground to return to his feet and employ his boxing attack. "Fearless" may have been feeling the moment a bit too much when he tried to snatch a submission after hurting Tiara in Round 3, but jabs and crushing body work allowed him to build his combinations and find a finish early in Round 5 Given what we know about his defensive grappling prowess, it was a bit strange that Van came into this fight as a solid underdog, but it may be the case that the public wasn't quite sure how to react after Van won the title via an injury to Alexandre Pantoja. Respect is sure to follow from this performance, as Van never lost composure despite momentum swings and was ready to throw in combination with power as soon as he was in boxing range. Van improved to 16-2-0 in professional MMA due to the victory.

MAY 10 • ROTOWIRE

UFC 328 goes on without Trump, Van defends 125-pound crown, Strickland wins middleweight title

Sean Strickland regains the UFC’s 185-pound championship, defeating Khamzat Chimaev via split decision at UFC 328

MAY 10 • Associated Press

How much are Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira making for UFC 328 co-main event flyweight title? Joshua Van will defend his title against Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event of UFC 328.

MAY 9 • BOLAVIP.COM

UFC 328: Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira odds, picks and predictions In a 5-round flyweight championship bout in the main event, Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira meet Saturday at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.

MAY 9 • NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.COM

No longer fighting Taira Van (undisclosed) will no longer take on Tatsuro Taira at UFC 327 in April 11, per Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com.

Impact Van was slated to defend his title after becoming the UFC Flyweight Champion in a brief fight against Alexandre Pantoja in which the latter got hurt. However, he'll have to wait to defend his title, as he's pulled out of the bout for undisclosed reasons.

APRIL 5 • ROTOWIRE

Will fight Tatsuro Taira Van will take on Tatsuro Taira in a flyweight event at UFC 327 on April 11, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.

Impact Van became the UFC Flyweight champion after defeating Alexandre Pantoja when the latter suffered an injury just 24 seconds into the bout. Van against Taira was the matchup everybody was waiting for, and it will be a huge test for Van in his first-ever title defense. Van has won his last six fights.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Top UFC Flyweight Contender Responds After Brutal Joshua Van Title Fight Update The UFC flyweight division may have faced scrunity over the years, but it's now undergoing a new era with Joshua Van having become champion...

FEBRUARY 15 • SI.COM

Petr Yan stunningly dominates Merab Dvalishvili to capture the bantamweight championship at UFC 323

Petr Yan stunned Merab Dvalishvili with a dominating effort to capture the bantamweight championship by unanimous decision at UFC 323 on Saturday night

DECEMBER 7, 2025 • Associated Press

New champ following opponent injury Van won the UFC Flyweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Alexandre Pantoja via TKO (injury) at 0:26 of Round 1 at UFC 323 in Las Vegas.

Impact There's nothing to say about this fight from a technical standpoint. Van blocked an early head kick from Pantoja and the latter appeared to snap his arm near the elbow as he attempted to brace himself upon falling to the mat. Just like that, Van is a UFC champion at age 24. His first title defense is going to come against Tatsuro Taira, who became the first man to stop Brandon Moreno earlier in the evening and was cage side for this one.

DECEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

UFC 323: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van odds, picks and predictions Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van meet Saturday at UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card is scheduled to begin at 10...

DECEMBER 6, 2025 • NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.COM

Merab Dvalishvili aims to extend winning streak against Petr Yan in UFC 323

Merab Dvalishvili is a substantial favorite to beat Petr Yan and retain his bantamweight belt in UFC 323 on Saturday night

DECEMBER 5, 2025 • Associated Press

Joshua Van eyes finish of Alexandre Pantoja in UFC 323 flyweight title bout UFC flyweight contender Joshua Van speaks to MMA Junkie Radio ahead of his title shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 in Las Vegas.

OCTOBER 16, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Gets title shot at 24 years old Van will take on Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 323 on Dec. 6, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.

Impact Van is in the midst of a five-fight winning streak, most recently defeated Brandon Royval in a Fight of the Night-winning effort back in June. Despite absorbing 215 significant strikes in three hard rounds, Van will be ready for a turnaround less than six months later. Van may very well be the future of the flyweight division given he's only 24 years old, but he'll likely enter this one against Pantoja as the underdog, given "The Cannibal" has nearly cleaned out the division with four consecutive title defenses.

OCTOBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

UFC title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van official The UFC has given Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van exactly what they asked for.

OCTOBER 14, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Joshua Van shares two-word reaction as his title fight against Alexandre Pantoja is seemingly leaked at UFC Rio An MMA fighter reportedly leaked the details about Alexandre Pantoja's potential flyweight title defense against Joshua Van later this year,...

OCTOBER 12, 2025 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

UFC 5 Patch 1.27 Brings Gameplay Tweaks and Joshua Van's Debut Submission fixes and stability updates headline the latest UFC 5 patch If you've ever been caught in a triangle choke online and thought you...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Joshua Van confirms possible title fight news with short message to fans Hot prospect Joshua Van cemented his place at the top of the flyweight division with a three-round spectacle over Brandon Royval at UFC 317.

AUGUST 27, 2025 • SI.COM

Joshua Van: 'I don't give respect to nobody inside that cage' Four months again, UFC flyweight Joshua Van was unranked.

JULY 8, 2025 • KANSASCITY.COM

After Just Five Years of MMA Training, Rising UFC Star May Become a Champion At just 23 years old, Joshua Van has accomplished what most fighters spend a lifetime chasing.

JUNE 29, 2025 • THESTATE.COM

Joshua Van reacts to faceoff with Alexandre Pantoja, predicts title win UFC 317 winner Joshua Van spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters post-fight after his unanimous decision victory over Brandon Royval in Las Vegas...

JUNE 29, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

JOSHUA VAN NEWS

NEWS

BIO

SOCIAL

VIDEOS

UFC 328 goes on without Trump, Van defends 125-pound crown, Strickland wins middleweight title

Petr Yan stunningly dominates Merab Dvalishvili to capture the bantamweight championship at UFC 323

Merab Dvalishvili aims to extend winning streak against Petr Yan in UFC 323