Myanmar fighter Joshua Van makes history at UFC

Born in 2001, Van is continuing his fairy tale in the UFC. He will challenge Pantoja for the flyweight (51 kg) title on Dec. 6 at UFC 323. A victory will make Van the second youngest UFC champion in history, following Jon Jones, who won his title at 23, Marca reported.

Van joined the UFC in June 2023 at the age of 21, quickly impressing fans with his fast-paced attacks and pinpoint accuracy.

In his first year, he won three consecutive fights against Zhalgas Zhumagulov, Kevin Borjas and Felipe Bunes, bringing his professional record to 10 wins and just 1 loss.

However, his rise faced a setback when British fighter Charles Johnson knocked him out in July 2024, causing doubts about whether Van was just a short-lived phenomenon.

The poster for the UFC flyweight title between Joshua Van (R) and Alexandre Pantoja. Photo by UFC

Instead of taking time to rest, Van returned to the octagon just two months later at UFC Noche, where he faced Mexican fighter Edgar Chairez. Van won convincingly after three rounds, showcasing significant improvements.

He continued his winning streak with two more victories before UFC 316 in June 2025, where he defeated Bruno Silva by technical knockout. Just three weeks later, at UFC 317, Van had the opportunity to fight for a title shot against Brandon Royval after Manel Kape was injured. With little time to prepare, Van held his ground, delivering a dominant performance and earning a victory by points over Royval, one of the top flyweight fighters.

In the same event, Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his bantamweight title by defeating Kai Kara-France. After the fight, Van stepped into the octagon, facing Pantoja in a moment that seemed destined to lead to a showdown between the two fighters, according to MMA Junkie.

Last week, the UFC officially confirmed that Van and Pantoja will headline UFC 323, the event marking the end of this year at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Pantoja, widely regarded as the best flyweight fighter in the UFC after Demetrious Johnson, brings extensive experience and a strong grappling background to the table. The Brazilian champion is likely to take the fight to the ground, aiming to neutralize Van's striking ability.

Despite the challenge, Van remains confident. He believes that his speed, flexible striking, and ability to withstand pressure will give him the edge. Van's calm demeanor and resilience have made him a standout figure in the UFC, and he is poised to make his mark as one of the rising stars of Asian MMA.