Who Is Joshua Van? The New Flyweight Champion Who Claimed Gold After Pantoja’s Injury
New UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van secured his title in 26 seconds, then sparked controversy by declaring Conor McGregor the overall GOAT and the man he defeated, Pantoja, the flyweight GOAT over DJ.
The 24-year-old Joshua Van instantly became a figurehead of controversy after his title win, redefining the MMA GOAT debate.
The UFC's flyweight division pressure gauge has violently snapped from 'Contested' to 'Conquered,' courtesy of the newest and one of the youngest champions in the promotion's history: Joshua 'The Fearless' Van. The 24-year old rising star accomplished the near-unthinkable at UFC 323 this weekend, seizing the 125 pound title from the dominant champion Alexandre Pantoja via a stunning first-round TKO. Van’s coronation has not only reshuffled the division but has also instantly made him the sport's most controversial new voice, using his platform to rewrite the history books.
Van had unusually come into the fight as a significant underdog against the entrenched champion Pantoja, who was seeking his fifth consecutive title defense, having dominated the division for the past year. The quick nature of the victory Pantoja suffered a debilitating arm injury just 26 seconds into the first round, forcing the stoppage instantly stripped the Brazilian of the title and put the new champion in the spotlight. Van, the first Asian-born male champion and second-youngest champion in UFC history, quickly went to work setting his legacy, focusing on his influences and the sport's biggest names.
But he got straight to the business of setting his legacy with a flurry of controversial statements directed at the sport's biggest names. When pressed on the GOAT status of the former king of the division, Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson, Van immediately dismissed the traditional view. He instead shocked many by naming the man he had just defeated, Alexandre Pantoja, as his flyweight GOAT.
Van explained this was generational
" I started watching UFC after 2017 so... I didn't really see Johnson fight... All I see is Pantoja... that's why I say he's the greatest of all time."
He then went further, weighing in on the all-time debate by publicly crowning the most influential figure in the sport: Conor McGregor. Van, confirming a statement from an Inside Fighting interview, declared McGregor the true "GOAT" of MMA, stating he was his original role model when he started his journey.
"I'm the headline now, but Conor is the GOAT," Van told the post-fight press conference afterwards.
"Pantoja is the GOAT of this division, in my time. I'm the king right now. I'm making history today."
