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Tag: Joshua Van

  • UFC 328 Aftermath Sees Several Fighters Hit With Lengthy Medical Suspensions

    UFC 328 Aftermath Sees Several Fighters Hit With Lengthy Medical Suspensions

    UFC 328 delivered an action-packed night in Newark, but the aftermath shows just how much damage the fighters endured inside the cage.

    Following the May 9 event at Prudential Center, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board issued a lengthy list of medical suspensions, with 11 fighters receiving indefinite suspensions pending medical clearance. The card was headlined by Sean Strickland reclaiming the title in a grueling split decision over Khamzat Chimaev, and both men were among those sidelined.

    Strickland was handed an indefinite suspension until his left hand is cleared by an orthopedist, along with a mandatory 45-day suspension and 30 days of no contact. “Borz” received a 45-day suspension with 30 days no contact.

    The co-main event fighters also did not escape unscathed. Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira were both issued indefinite suspensions. “The Fearless” must receive clearance on his left hand, while Taira requires a CT scan after suffering a late stoppage loss. “The Best” also faces a 90-day suspension with 60 days no contact.

    Several other fighters across the card were also handed medical suspensions, highlighting the physical toll of the event.

    Full UFC 328 medical suspensions:

    • Sean Strickland: Indefinite (left hand), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Khamzat Chimaev: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Joshua Van: Indefinite (left hand), 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Tatsuro Taira: Indefinite (CT scan), 90 days, 60 no contact
    • Alexander Volkov: No suspension
    • Waldo Cortes-Acosta: 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Sean Brady: No suspension
    • Joaquin Buckley: 30 days, 21 no contact
    • King Green: No suspension
    • Jeremy Stephens: Indefinite (groin)
    • Ateba Gautier: No suspension
    • Ozzy Diaz: Indefinite (right eye), 60 days, 30 no contact
    • Yaroslav Amosov: No suspension
    • Joel Alvarez: No suspension
    • Grant Dawson: Indefinite (tibia), 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Mateusz Rebecki: Indefinite (orbit), 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Jim Miller: Indefinite (left hand), 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Jared Gordon: 30 days, 15 no contact
    • Roman Kopylov: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Marco Tulio: Indefinite (foot/ankle), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Pat Sabatini: No suspension
    • William Gomis: No suspension
    • Baysangur Susurkaev: Indefinite (hand/foot), 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Djorden Santos: 45 days, 30 no contact
    • Jose Ochoa: 30 days, 21 no contact
    • Clayton Carpenter: Indefinite (lower leg), 45 days, 30 no contact

    Notably, clearance from a medical professional can shorten these suspensions.

  • ‘Take A Bow’ – Joshua Van Retains In War With Tatsuro Taira

    ‘Take A Bow’ – Joshua Van Retains In War With Tatsuro Taira

    Joshua Van put on another strong performance in the Octagon to mark his first title defense, defeating Tatsuro Taira to retain the UFC flyweight championship in the co-main event of UFC 328.

    Taira pressured and scored a takedown on Van in the first minute of the fight, controlling Van for the first half of round one until an unsuccessful guillotine attempt. Van was able to avoid Taira’s grappling to start the second round, and he used slick handwork to land several shots upstairs on his challenger.

    Taira, however, scored another takedown halfway through the second round — though Van landed several shots from the bottom. Van turned things up again in the closing seconds of round two, landing a straight right that nearly put Taira out.

    Van avoided Taira’s takedown efforts and continued to work his striking in the third, touching Taira up and busting him open. Van grounded Taira again, landing ground-and-pound and attempting multiple submissions. Taira did manage to score a takedown at the end of round three.

    After a little trading to start round four, Taira scored another takedown on Van, controlling most of the frame on the ground before the last portion featured trading from both men. Taira also looked for a submission in this round, threatening a triangle armbar.

    The fight would not see the final horn, however. Van landed a couple of combinations, wobbling and dropping Taira in the fifth round, and the referee — despite a brief protest from Taira — waved off the action.

    Joshua Van Stops Tatsuro Taira To Retain Flyweight Title At UFC 328

    Van has lost just twice, with one of those fights coming in the UFC, bringing him to a 17-2 record. This was the first title defense for Van, who has now won seven straight, after claiming the belt from Alexandre Pantoja via injury TKO at UFC 323.

    That marked just the second loss of Taira’s MMA career. Taira earned this title shot off a finish of former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 323.

  • Tatsuro Taira Plans To End Japan’s Long Wait For UFC Champion With Potential Win At UFC 328

    Tatsuro Taira Plans To End Japan’s Long Wait For UFC Champion With Potential Win At UFC 328

    Tatsuro Taira believes he has the opportunity to accomplish something no Japanese fighter has ever achieved inside the UFC.

    This Saturday at UFC 328, Taira will challenge Joshua Van for the flyweight title in the co-main event at the Prudential Center in Newark. Despite entering as the challenger, oddsmakers currently favor “The Best” to leave New Jersey with championship gold.

    For the 25-year-old contender, the fight represents far more than a personal milestone.

    “It’s my dream and also Japanese fans’,” Taira said during UFC 328 media day. “Japanese fans have been waiting for the UFC belt. I will win and bring the UFC belt back to Japan. I’m ready to seize this opportunity.”

    Tatsuro Taira Looking To Make UFC History For Japan

    Japan has produced some of the most influential fighters in MMA history, but the country has never crowned an undisputed UFC champion despite several close attempts over the years.

    Seasoned veterans such as Kyoji Horiguchi, Kai Asakura, and Yushin Okami all came close to reaching the top of the UFC mountain, but none were ultimately able to capture a title.

    “The Best” now has the chance to change that.

    The Japanese standout enters UFC 328 with an impressive 18-1 professional record and an 8-1 mark inside the UFC. His lone career defeat came in a narrow decision loss to Brandon Royval in 2024

    Since then, Taira has continued building momentum and most recently earned a statement victory to secure his title shot against Van.

    Beyond winning the championship, Taira also hopes his success could help bring the UFC back to Japan for the first time in nearly a decade.

    “I must be the person,” Taira said. “After I win the belt, I want to help bring a big, big UFC event to Japan.”

    The UFC last held an event in Japan back in 2017, and Taira believes becoming champion could reignite the promotion’s presence in one of MMA’s most historic markets.

  • Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira Title Fight Rebooked For UFC 328

    Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira Title Fight Rebooked For UFC 328

    The UFC flyweight championship matchup between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, originally scheduled for UFC 327, has been rescheduled for UFC 328.

    Hours ago, reports circulated, originally from MMA Fighting, that Van has been forced out of UFC 327 for undisclosed reasons. The UFC had not announced an update on the fight to that point.

    During the UFC Vegas 115 broadcast, the promotion confirmed Van’s withdrawal from UFC 327; however, they stated the bout would only be delayed by a month. It is now booked for the co-main event of UFC 328.

    This will mark Van’s first title defense since winning the championship from Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323.

    Taira also competed at UFC 323, earning this title shot by finishing former two-time champion Brandon Moreno.

    UFC 327 takes place from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 11. The main event sees Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg to determine the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

    UFC 328 takes place on May 9 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main event will feature Khamzat Chimaev defending the UFC middleweight championship against former champ Sean Strickland.

  • UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van Out Of Title Defense At UFC 327

    UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van Out Of Title Defense At UFC 327

    UFC 327 has taken a major hit, as the UFC flyweight championship co-main event will not go on as scheduled.

    Per a report from Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting, UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van has withdrawn from next weekend’s numbered UFC card.

    As of press time, there is no word on why Van has withdrawn. Cruz’s report cites “undisclosed reasons.”

    It is also unclear if planned title challenger Tatsuro Taira will fight for an interim title or if the planned Van vs. Taira title fight will be pushed back to another card.

    Some members of the MMA community on social media, including Magic M and Caposa, seemed to have hinted at the latter.

    This was to be Van’s first defense of the UFC flyweight title. He won the belt at UFC 323 after Alexandre Pantoja suffered an injury during their fight.

    That same night, Taira earned a title shot by finishing former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno.

    One title fight for UFC 327 remains — the main event featuring Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg for the to-be-vacant UFC light heavyweight championship.

    UFC 327 takes place on April 11 from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

  • ‘Absolutely Sickening’ – Fighters & Fans Left In Shock As Alexandre Pantoja Arm Injury Leads To Joshua Van Becoming Flyweight Champion At UFC 323

    ‘Absolutely Sickening’ – Fighters & Fans Left In Shock As Alexandre Pantoja Arm Injury Leads To Joshua Van Becoming Flyweight Champion At UFC 323

    In one of the most shocking moments in UFC title history, Alexadre Pantoja suffers a broken arm in less than 30 seconds, making Joshua Van the new UFC flyweight champion in the co-main event of UFC 323.

    Pantoja came out with his traditional aggressive style, trying to bring the striking pressure to Van. Van would catch a kick and dump Pantoja to the floor — and that was the moment the fight ended.

    Pantoja landed on his arm when being pushed down to the mat, resulting in what appeared to be a nasty break to end the title fight.

    Joshua Van Claims Flyweight Title At UFC 323 After Alexandre Pantoja Breaks Arm

    Van is 9-1 in the Octagon, and this marked his sixth straight win. This completes an epic 2025 for Van after a decision win over Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313, a finish of Bruno Silva at UFC 316, and a Fight of the Year with Brandon Royval at UFC 317.

    Pantoja’s title reign began at UFC 290, defeating Brandon Moreno. He defended the title four times, defeating Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301, Kai Asakura at UFC 310, and Kai Kara-France at UFC 317.

  • UFC 323 Results & Highlights: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan (6PM ET)

    UFC 323 takes place tonight from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    In the main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against former champion Petr Yan. While in the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja puts his belt on the line against Joshua Van.

    Elsewhere on the main card, Brandon Moreno faces Tatsuro Taira in a flyweight matchup; Henry Cejudo meets Payton Talbott in a bantamweight clash; and Jan Błachowicz takes on Bogdan Guskov at light heavyweight.

    Catch all the UFC 323 results and highlights as they happen below!

    Main Card: 10PM ET, PPV

    • Bantamweight title: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan
    • Flyweight title: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van
    • Flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
    • Bantamweight: Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott
    • Light Heavyweight: Jan Błachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov

    Preliminary Card: 8PM ET, ESPNews/FX/ESPN

    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson vs. Manuel Torres
    • Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan
    • Women’s Flyweight: Maycee Barber vs. Karine Silva
    • Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov vs. Farés Ziam

    Early Preliminary Card: 6PM ET, (ESPN+/Disney+/FX

    • Catchweight: Marvin Vettori vs. Brunno Ferreira
    • Lightweight: Edson Barboza vs. Jalin Turner
    • Light Heavyweight: Iwo Baraniewski vs. Ibo Aslan
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Antonio Trocoli
    • Catchweight: Muhammad Naimov vs. Mairon Santos
  • What’s Next After UFC 322? Full Confirmed UFC 323 Main Card For Las Vegas On December 6

    What’s Next After UFC 322? Full Confirmed UFC 323 Main Card For Las Vegas On December 6

    UFC 322 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 323 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The promotion was in New York City last week, where Madison Square Garden played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its 12th numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Islam Makhachev and Valentina Shevchenko, as well as important victories for Michael Morales, Carlos Prates, and Benoit Saint-Denis.

    While the aftermath of the November 15 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the welterweight and women’s flyweight title pictures to the bantamweight and flyweight championship conversations.

    At UFC 323, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 6, Merab Dvalishvili will defend the UFC bantamweight championship against Petr Yan.

    This will be a rematch of their first encounter in March 2023, which Dvalishvili won by decision. Since then, Dvalishvili defeated Henry Cejudo before besting Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 to capture the bantamweight title. He’s made successful title defenses against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, O’Malley at UFC 316, and Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. A win at UFC 323 would make Dvalishvili the first champion in UFC history to defend the title successfully four times in one calendar year.

    Since the loss to Dvalishvili, Yan has won three straight, picking up wins over Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Marcus McGhee.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-main event, as Alexandre Pantoja defends the UFC flyweight championship against Joshua Van. Pantoja won the championship by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290, and he has since successfully defended against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, Kai Asakura, and Kai Kara-France. Van has won five straight and is 8-1 in the Octagon. His 2025 has seen him earn a decision over Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313, score a highlight finish of Bruno Silva at UFC 316, and earn an upset over then No. 1-ranked Royval in a highlight fight at UFC 317.

    Moreno, Cejudo, Blachowicz Set The Stage For Bantamweight Title Headliner At UFC 323

    Before Dvalishvili and Pantoja make their way out to defend their titles, several names will look to make their own statements on the main card for UFC 323.

    This includes the aforementioned Moreno, who will be doing with Tatsuro Taira. After dropping the flyweight title to Pantoja, Moreno lost a close split decision to Brandon Royval, but he has since rebounded with wins over Amir Albazi and Steve Erceg. Taira also tasted defeat via split decision to Royval, which marked the first loss of Taira’s MMA career. He rebounded, however, with a submission of Hyun-sung Park in August.

    Henry Cejudo will also be featured on this card, as he takes on Payton Talbott. Though he’s a former simultaneous champion at flyweight and bantamweight, Cejudo has lost all three fights he’s had since coming out of retirement. This includes a technical decision loss to Song Yadong this past February. The highly-touted Talbott rebounded from his first professional loss with a decision win over Felipe Lima at UFC 317.

    The main card is scheduled to open with former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz taking on Bogdan Guskov. Blachowicz is 1-3-1 since dropping the light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267. After just under two years away, Blachowicz returned this past March, dropping a decision to Carlos Ulberg. Guskov has won four straight since dropping his UFC debut, most recently knocking out Nikita Krylov at UFC Abu Dhabi in July.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of Marvin Vettori, Maycee Barber, and Edson Barboza, all of whom are expected to be featured players on the event’s preliminary card.

    See below for the UFC 323 lineup, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan
    • Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van
    • Flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
    • Bantamweight: Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott
    • Light Heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov

    Preliminary Card (Order TBA):

    • Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov vs. Mairon Santos
    • Middleweight: Marvin Vettori vs. Brunno Ferreira
    • Women’s Flyweight: Maycee Barber vs. Karine Silva
    • Lightweight: Edson Barboza vs. Jalin Turner
    • Light Heavyweight: Iwo Baraniewski vs. İbo Aslan
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson vs. Manuel Torres
    • Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Antonio Trocoli
    • Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov vs. Fares Ziam
  • Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van To Headline UFC 323 On December 6

    Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van To Headline UFC 323 On December 6

    The UFC will close out it’s 2025 pay-per-view schedule, as well as its era of ESPN+ pay-per-views, with UFC 323, which will take place on December 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and feature two title fights.

    In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili will get his wish — an opportunity to become the first UFC champion to successfully defend his title four times in a calendar year. To accomplish this, he will need to get through former champion Petr Yan.

    Dvalishvili and Yan previously met in the main event of UFC Las Vegas in March 2024, with Dvalishvili picking up a unanimous decision win.

    Since then, Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306, and he has successfully retained the gold against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, O’Malley at UFC 316, and, recently, Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320.

    Yan has won three straight, scoring decisions over Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Marcus McGhee. Yan won the bantamweight title with a finish of Jose Aldo at UFC 251 but lost the title on an infamous disqualification loss to Aljamain Sterling. He’d win the interim title by defeating Sandhagen but lost an undisputed title rematch with Sterling.

    UFC 323 To Be Headlined By Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van

    As spoiled days ago at UFC Rio, the flyweight title will be on the line in the co-main event, as Alexandre Pantoja defends against Joshua Van.

    Since winning the flyweight title from Brandon Moreno at UFC 290, Pantoja has retained the gold against Brandon Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301, Kai Asakura at UFC 310, and Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. Van, who is 8-1 since joining the UFC, has had a major climb up the UFC’s flyweight ranks in 2025. Van defeated Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313, finished Bruno Silva at UFC 316, and won a short-notice war with Royval at UFC 317 to earn the title shot.

    UFC 323 will also feature Moreno in action against Tatsuro Taira, in a bout that could have implications on the challenger of the Pantoja vs. Van winner.

    UFC 323 will also see former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo in action against Payton Talbott and former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz taking on Bogdan Guskov.

    All of the announced fights for UFC 323 so far can be found below:

    • Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan
    • Flyweight Championship: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van
    • Flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
    • Bantamweight: Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott
    • Light Heavyweight: Jan Błachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov
    • Middleweight: Marvin Vettori vs. Brunno Ferreira
    • Women’s Flyweight: Maycee Barber vs. Karine Silva
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Antonio Trocoli
    • Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Chris Duncan
    • Lightweight: Fares Ziam vs. Nazim Sadykhov
  • UFC Rio Fighter Seems To Leak Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van Flyweight Title Fight Confirmation For UFC 323

    UFC Rio Fighter Seems To Leak Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van Flyweight Title Fight Confirmation For UFC 323

    A fight that has long been rumored for UFC 323 appears to now have been confirmed, leaked by, of all people, a fighter who competed on the UFC Rio card.

    During his post-fight interview, Michael Aswell Jr. advocated to compete next on UFC 323, which was recently confirmed for December 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Aswell cited a desire to compete on the same card as his teammate, Joshua Van. And that was when Aswell said Van would be challenging Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight championship on the card.

    Van has been pegged as the next title challenger after his short-notice victory over former title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317 in June, and the fight had been rumored to take place in December.

    Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van For Flyweight Title Now Confirmed For UFC 323?

    Van is 15-2 in MMA, including a 8-1 record. Since his knockout loss to Charles Johnson, Van has won five straight, which includes a finish of Bruno Silva at UFC 316, just four weeks before his win over Royval.

    This fight would mark Pantoja’s fifth flyweight title defense attempt. Pantoja, who has won eight straight, defeated Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 for the title. Since then, he’s defended the belt against Royval at UFC 296, Steve Erceg at UFC 301, Kai Asakura at UFC 310, and Kai Kara-France at UFC 317.

    Aswell, meanwhile, made quick work of Lucas Almeida in the featured prelim of UFC Rio.

    UFC 323 will mark the last pay-per-view event of the UFC’s ESPN era, with the final Fight Night card happening the next week.

  • Joshua Van Says Loss Changed Everything: “The Greatest Thing That Ever Happened”

    Joshua Van Says Loss Changed Everything: “The Greatest Thing That Ever Happened”

    UFC flyweight contender Joshua Van has said that his knockout loss to Charles Johnson last year was one of the best things that could’ve happened to him.

    As we know, 23-year-old Joshua Van is the number one contender for the UFC flyweight championship. He looks set to challenge Alexandre Pantoja for the belt in a fight that pits the old guard against the new, with many wondering whether or not Van has what it takes to become one of the youngest UFC champions of all time.

    However, while he may be on a great five-fight win streak, Joshua Van has two losses to his name – both by finish. In the latest of those two defeats, he was knocked out by Charles Johnson last year in what was fairly surprising for those who always knew his full potential.

    In a recent interview, Joshua Van spoke candidly about how losing in such a way actually helped him grow.

    Joshua Van reveals impact of defeat

    “It was just the faith thing. The loss was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, because if not, I would have been out of the world—get a big head and things like that. I got humble real quick. Now, I never want to go back to that type of moment. So, I’m just staying in my lane, doing what coach is telling me to do, so that none of that type of thing will ever happen to me again.”

    Get ready, folks, because a new star is rising.

  • ‘High Level Fighting’ – Fighters & Fans React To Joshua Van Dropping, Defeating Brandon Royval In Bloody Fight Of The Year Slugfest At UFC 317

    ‘High Level Fighting’ – Fighters & Fans React To Joshua Van Dropping, Defeating Brandon Royval In Bloody Fight Of The Year Slugfest At UFC 317

    Just three weeks ago at UFC 316, Joshua Van scored a dominant finish of Bruno Silva — and then was quickly asked days later to fill in for Manel Kape against No. 1 contender and former title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317.

    And now, after one of the most action-packed, memorable, and most entertaining fights the UFC flyweight division has ever seen — let alone a Fight of the Year nominee — Van defeated Royval via decision — and now has solidified himself as a top name in the UFC at 125.

    Royval brought the pressure early to start the fight, landing several leg kicks and working his jab. Van did land a small series of single punches, and all brought notable power. Royval continued to throw, though not much landed, as it seemed to be more about keeping distance and preventing Van from landing much. Van’s output in the first was significantly less, but when he did throw, it landed most of the time.

    Royval looked to implement some dirty boxing and make things more of a brawl in the second, staying busy with volume. This included a straight left that solidly landed. Van, however, continued to connect. A one-two from Royval backed Van up, but Van answered back with his own combination. Royval would bring the pressure, but Van would continue to answer, resulting in a memorable back-and-forth striking war over the course of these five minutes.

    The third round showcased the war that these two displayed — with both men landing personal bests for significant strikes. As one brought pressure and landed well, the other responded the same. But Van dropped Royval in the closing seconds, and while he wasn’t able to get the finish, it was enough to give him the win in a bloody battle.

    Joshua Van Edges Out Brandon Royval In War At UFC 317

    Van has now won five straight and is 8-1 in the Octagon.

    Royval has won five of seven, with his only losses in this stretch now coming against Van and UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. Royval came into tonight’s bout off wins over Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira.

  • Joshua Van To Make Three-Week Turnaround To Replace Manel Kape Against Brandon Royval At UFC 317

    Joshua Van To Make Three-Week Turnaround To Replace Manel Kape Against Brandon Royval At UFC 317

    The much-anticipated UFC 317 lineup has undergone a notable shake-up.

    The UFC’s next pay-per-view event, scheduled for June 28 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will mark the closing highlight of this year’s International Fight Week.

    On Monday, news emerged that Manel Kape had withdrawn from his scheduled bout against former flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317 for reasons unknown. Stepping up on less than three weeks’ notice, surging prospect Joshua Van has accepted the challenge to square off against Royval.

    Royval took to social media to announce the updated matchup, revealing that Kape had suffered an injury. He also lauded Van for answering the call on such short notice.

    “Manel Kape is out, Joshua Van is stepping in,” Royval said on Instagram. “I have zero idea of the extent of Manel Kape’s injuries but I do know I have the hottest prospect and probably the most exciting UFC flyweight in front of me. Really nothing changes for me as far as what’s in front of me. I’ve got a gangster that’s ready to take my head off and earn his name off of me.”

    “Raw Dawg” was originally set to face off against Kape in the headline bout of UFC Vegas 103 back in March. However, he was compelled to pull out nearly a month prior after suffering multiple concussions during training.

    Royval is riding a two-fight winning streak after falling short in his title challenge against reigning 125-pound champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 296 in December 2023. The 32-year-old Colorado native last competed in October, securing a gritty split decision victory over Tatsuro Taira.

    Van last seen in action this past Saturday at UFC 316, where he secured a last-minute finish over Bruno Silva. “The Fearless” enters UFC 317 on the back of a four-fight winning streak, which includes dominant decision victories over Rei Tsuruya and Cody Durden.

    The 23-year-old Burmese-American also took to X to officially confirm the bout against Royval.

    Image: @ufc/Instagram

    What Does The UFC 317 Lineup Look Like?

    UFC 317 will be headlined by a championship double-header. The main event features former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria facing former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira in a battle for the vacant lightweight crown at 155 pounds. Meanwhile, the co-main event will see flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defend his title against Kai Kara-France.

    Here are the confirmed bouts for the UFC 317 card:

    • Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira; vacant lightweight championship
    • Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France: flyweight championship
    • Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov; middleweight bout
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano; lightweight bout
    • Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van; flyweight bout
    • Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues; middleweight bout
    • Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez; women’s flyweight bout
    • Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber; lightweight bout
    • Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado; featherweight bout
    • Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa; heavyweight bout
    UFC 317 poster
    Image: @ufc/X

  • ‘Could Very Easily See Him Winning A UFC Title’ – Fans & Fighters React To Joshua Van Scoring UFC Flyweight-Record 3 Knockdowns In UFC 316 Victory

    ‘Could Very Easily See Him Winning A UFC Title’ – Fans & Fighters React To Joshua Van Scoring UFC Flyweight-Record 3 Knockdowns In UFC 316 Victory

    Joshua Van continues to make noise and surge up the flyweight rankings, defeating Bruno Silva in a clinic that capped off the UFC 316 preliminary card.

    Van’s crisp striking was on display from the opening frame, overcoming Silva’s leg-kick-based attack by trying to keep distance and using a variety of punches, including a left hook that dropped Silva late in the round.

    Van came out in the second round looking to dictate the pace again, controlling the action with more distance work and use of his jab. Van scored another knockdown in this round with a right hand. Though Silva scored a takedown during the second round, Van got around it and managed to trouble Silva some more with a hook and ground-and-pound before the end of the round.

    Van continued to overwhelm with accurate and powerful striking in the third round. Van dropped Silva with a right hook and some more ground-and-pound put Silva away about four minutes into the final frame.

    Joshua Van Puts Beating On Bruno Gustavo Da Silva At UFC 316

    Van, who improves to 14-2, has now won four straight and 11 of his last 12. This marked his fifth fight in an 11-month span; that span also included a loss to Charles Johnson and wins over Edgar Chairez, Cody Durden and Rei Tsuruya.

    Silva has now lost two straight after a four-fight win streak. He came into this fight off a loss to Manel Kape in December.

  • UFC 313 Fighter Hopes ‘Miracle’ Allows Him To Break Jon Jones Record

    UFC 313 Fighter Hopes ‘Miracle’ Allows Him To Break Jon Jones Record

    Jon Jones’ early UFC career is particularly notable for making history as the youngest champion in the promotion’s history. While unlikely, one rising fighter set to see action at UFC 313 still holds slim hopes of breaking that record.

    Jones claimed the light heavyweight title at UFC 128 on March 19, 2011, when he defeated Maurício “Shogun” Rua at just 23 years of age. He’s since gone on to have one of the most decorated careers in UFC history, setting multiple records at 205 pounds before moving up to heavyweight, where he later won the championship.

    Now, UFC 313’s Joshua Van is hoping for a chance to surpass Jones’ record — but time is running out.

    Van, who made his professional MMA debut in 2021, has compiled a 12-2 record, including six fights in the UFC. The 22-year-old is riding a two-fight winning streak and remains optimistic about his chances, even if he acknowledges the challenge of making history.

    “Nah, I never thought about it (becoming the youngest UFC champion) until I made it to the UFC, and then I was like, ‘Oh, I’m pretty young… maybe I can make it happen,’” Van told MMA Knockout ahead of his return at UFC 313. “If, like, a miracle, some opportunity pulls up and I get to fight for the belt, then hey, so be it. Let’s hope.”

    For Van to achieve this feat, he would need an unexpected title shot within the next four months, as he turns 23 soon. Current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is expected to defend his belt against Kai Kara-France in June, meaning Van would likely need an injury or unforeseen circumstances to open the door for him.

    Van was originally scheduled to fight Bruno Gustavo da Silva on March 8 at UFC 313. However, Silva withdrew due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Rei Tsuruya, the winner of Road to UFC Season 2 in the flyweight division.