Joshua Van, despite being labeled as inexperienced, confidently steps up to challenge reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja after a surprising win over Brandon Royval, aiming to prove himself ready for the title fight at UFC 323.
Joshua Van’s heard it before: “too much, too soon.” Yet, he didn’t hesitate when offered a short-notice fight against Brandon Royval last June.
Fresh off a win over Bruno Silva at UFC 316, Van jumped at the chance to fight Royval just three weeks later. Critics doubted his chances, but he was praised for saving the marquee fight.
Against all odds, Van delivered a potential Fight of the Year, defeating Royval and securing his place as the No. 1 contender. Now, he’s set to face champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323.
Despite the whispers that he’s not ready, Van remains unfazed. “The same thing they said with the Royval fight,” he recalls. “I’ve got like nine fights in the UFC. What am I supposed to do? Wait?”
Van’s eager for the title shot, feeling perfectly prepared both mentally and physically. Underdog status? He’s used to it.
Respect for Pantoja is there, but Van isn’t dwelling on it. “I never thought about him,” he admits. “I’m the type of guy that’s like take one fight at a time.”
Pantoja’s record is impressive, with four title defenses and eight consecutive wins. Yet Van isn’t intimidated.
He believes past opponents gave Pantoja too much respect, leading to their downfall. “Nobody fights like Joshua Van,” he says confidently.
Van acknowledges Pantoja’s toughness. “He’s a dog,” Van says. “He’s always trying to come back and give you that dog fight.”
If Van wins, he’ll be the first to defeat Pantoja in over five years, becoming champion just 10 fights into his UFC career.
Jokingly, Van muses about life as a champion: “I’m going to wear sunglasses everywhere.” But in reality, he plans to stay grounded, focusing on the fight ahead.