Joshua Van is set to make his sixth professional appearance in the past year this Saturday at UFC 317, taking place in Las Vegas. This intense schedule followed a difficult loss to Charles Johnson last summer in Denver, an experience that ultimately fueled Van’s trajectory toward becoming a serious contender in the flyweight division.
Reflecting on that pivotal fight, Van admitted,
I don’t wanna make excuses and take nothing away from Johnson, but I wasn’t in the right mental (state),
—Joshua Van, UFC Flyweight Contender.
The 23-year-old Houston-based fighter, originally from Myanmar, has been on a tear since that humbling setback. After returning to competition against Edgar Chairez at UFC 306 and securing a hard-fought victory, Van closed out 2024 with a decisive win over Cody Durden. This year, he has continued his momentum with a dominant finish against formerly unbeaten Rei Tsuruya, followed by an impressive third-round stoppage of Bruno Silva at UFC 316 in New Jersey.
A Hard Lesson That Fueled Van’s Determination
The Denver loss taught Van a crucial lesson about humility and focus. Describing the moment when he underestimated his opponent during that bout, Van recalled,
My fight kept falling off — I was supposed to fight in April and it was cancelled, cancelled, cancelled — and it got to the point where I didn’t even want to train. Going into my corner at the end of the second round, I was like, ‘God, I think I can handle myself; I don’t need you,’ and then right away I was like, ‘Oh (bleep)!’
He chuckled as he remembered the outcome.
I was like, ‘I didn’t mean that! Now I’m gonna get knocked out,’ and then BOOM! I got knocked out.
—Joshua Van, UFC Flyweight Contender.
Van reflected on how that experience tempered his confidence.
It was a good, humbling moment because my head got too big. I got feeling like nobody could touch me,
he said with a smile.
I feel like that was the best thing that ever happened to me because it set me back to fight unranked guys and things like that. Had I won that fight, they would have put me with the top guys, and I don’t know if I was ready, so I feel like everything happened for a reason.
He didn’t forget to acknowledge his opponent, adding,
Shouts to Johnson for humbling my ass.
Recent Victories and the Opportunity at UFC 317
Since that event in Denver, Van has been relentless in his pursuit of recognition. His win against Silva at UFC 316 was a breakthrough performance, where he showcased notable technical and strategic improvements across three rounds. After returning to Houston, Van was preparing to celebrate with loved ones when his manager called with an unexpected offer.
Van recounted,
Thank God they called me before I started drinking,
noting the timing of the call was critical. His manager, Jason House, offered him a short-notice fight against Brandon Royval, stepping in for the originally scheduled Manel Kape in a key title eliminator bout on UFC 317’s stacked card.
He quickly made his decision:
When they called me, I didn’t think twice about it,
Van explained.
I was like, ‘Hell yeah I’ll take the fight.’ Shout-out to Royval for giving me a chance; he could have said no, so shout out to him.
He then stated with clear intent,
But we’re here to take over.
Van’s Vision for 2025 and Long-Term Aspirations
With an active fight schedule and a record rapidly improving to 14-2, Van sees 2025 as his year to dominate. Speaking to UFC.com’s Thomas Gerbasi, he declared,
We’re going to stay busy just like we did this year, maybe busier. I want to stay as active as possible.
His rise to title contention in just two years on the UFC roster reveals his commitment and work ethic.
His journey began well before the Octagon, inspired by a personal moment with his aunt. Van shared,
This one time I got into a fight with this guy that was training Muay Thai, and I beat the (expletive) out of him, so one of my homeboys was like, ‘You should do UFC,’ and I was like, ‘What the (expletive) is the UFC?’
His aunt’s words struck a deeper chord than punishment or reprimand.
Anybody can fight in the street, but only a real man fights for his country and his people, things like that. She was like, ‘Look at Manny Pacquiao. He fights on the biggest stage, fights for his people.’ That really got me.
That night, the decision was sealed:
That night, I couldn’t sleep, so the next morning I was like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be a fighter,’
and he called his mother as he committed to training in Houston.
Support System and Preparation Behind Van’s Success
Van credits his progress to a strong support network and expert guidance. He praised his coaches, saying,
The coaches believe in me, they guide me to the right direction,
and added,
If I miss the gym for two days, they get on my ass like, ‘Hey man, it’s been two days!’ They keep me in check with things like that, so I know I’m with the right people.
His disciplined approach and natural talent have positioned him at the brink of a title eliminator showdown against Brandon Royval, a seasoned contender who challenges Van’s capacity with a similar forward-pressing style.
On the upcoming bout, Van said,
He fights the same way I do — he likes coming forward — so this type of fight excites me,
adding,
I feel like this match is gonna be who can outsmart who, because we both know we’re not gonna get tired in there. Strength-wise, I don’t think he’s too strong of a guy, so it’s gonna be who’s smarter?
The Stakes: UFC 317 and the Flyweight Landscape
UFC 317 on June 28 stands as a critical event for the 125-pound division, pitting Van against Royval in a high-stakes fight likely to determine the next title challenger. The winner of this bout will move closer to facing flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, who defends his belt against Kai Kara-France later on the card.
Flyweight competition is varied, featuring contenders like Brandon Moreno, Amir Albazi, Tatsuro Taira, and Manel Kape who remain in the chase for the championship. Moreno warmed up with victories over Steve Erceg and others earlier this year, while Kape’s recent string of successes has been tempered by injury. Albazi and Taira are set to headline a UFC APEX event in August, which will clarify their standings further.
Other fighters such as Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, Asu Almabayev, Ramazan Temirov, and Tagir Ulanbekov represent the middle tier of flyweight talent, with the potential to rise depending on upcoming performances. The division also features Muhammad Mokaev, an undefeated fighter whose current absence leaves open questions about his return and future status in the division.
Looking Ahead: What Victory Could Mean for Van
If Van succeeds on Saturday, it will mark his fifth win in less than a year, cementing his position among the elite flyweights. A victory over Royval would undoubtedly open doors to championship contention and shift the balance in the rapidly evolving flyweight class.
Though aware of what’s at stake, Van remains focused on the immediate challenge and refuses to let anticipation distract him. Asked about the prospect of a title shot, he responded candidly,
Now that you said it, it’s cool as (expletive)!
He continued,
I don’t think about fights like that. I just go in there, train, have fun.Come fight day, we’re gonna be in that cage with that guy, so I don’t want to think about him 24/7, and I don’t really think about what’s next. I’m thinking about, ‘Tomorrow I’ve got to train.’
This mindset has powered Van’s remarkable rise and will be tested anew as he takes the Octagon for UFC 317, where his performance could signal a new era in his career and the flyweight division itself.