On June 7th at UFC 316, Joshua Van (15-2) was getting ready to make the walk hoping he’d be able to break into the flyweight rankings. Van had won three fights in a row after suffering a setback against Charles Johnson last July. Van was ready to take that next step in his career and the 23-year-old wanted a number by his name.

Minutes after his UFC 317 win over Kai Kara-France, Pantoja (30-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) was quite literally faced with his next opponent. Into the cage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas walked Joshua Van, who defeated Brandon Royval in a thrilling title eliminator just one fight prior.

At just 23 years old, Joshua Van has accomplished what most fighters spend a lifetime chasing. In a fight already being hailed by fans and UFC commentator Joe Rogan as a potential “fight of the year,” Van outlasted the seasoned Royval in a three-round war that showcased his volume,