In a shocking turn of events that may reverberate through combat sports history at UFC 323, Joshua Van captured the UFC flyweight championship in probably the most shocking manner possible, defeating Alexandre Pantoja via TKO as a consequence of injury just 26 seconds into their UFC 323 encounter in Las Vegas. At 24 years old, Van etched his name into the record books because the second-youngest champion in UFC history and the primary male UFC champion born in Asia.
😱🏆 A NEW ERA OF MARTIAL ARTS HAS BEGUN. THE FIRST FIGHTER BORN IN THE 2000’S IS NOW A CHAMPION.
JOSHUA VAN DEFEATS ALEXANDRE PANTOJA AND IS THE NEW FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION. pic.twitter.com/t6hjdhBenw
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 7, 2025
The fight unfolded in a blur of activity that defined Van’s meteoric rise through the ranks. Pantoja attempted an aggressive head kick early within the bout, but disaster struck as “The Cannibal” planted his arm on the canvas while falling, catastrophically snapping his elbow. Referee Jason Herzog waved off the competition, handing the 15-2 fighter an unforgettable championship moment under probably the most unusual circumstances.
Ending considered one of the best runs in UFC history like this sucks.
Feel horrible for Alexandre Pantoja. #UFC323
— Zach “🅂🄲🄷🅄🅉” Schumaker (@ZachSchumaker) December 7, 2025
Van’s ascent has been nothing wanting remarkable. The Myanmar-born competitor, who moved to america as a toddler in search of refuge from poverty and bullying, channeled his hardships into becoming the UFC’s most explosive striker at 125 kilos. His inspiration got here from Manny Pacquiao, and identical to the eight-time world boxing champion, Van fought his way through adversity to achieve the game’s pinnacle.
The 24-year-old’s five-fight winning streak featured devastating performances against high-ranked opponents, including a memorable Fight of the Night victory over Brandon Royval just months prior. Van’s blazing striking mixtures and relentless pace had established him as a generational talent, but few expected his coronation to reach quite so dramatically.
Pantoja’s reign, which began in July 2023, included 4 dominant title defenses and an eight-fight winning streak. Despite his championship credentials and surgical approach to dominance, the injury halted his bid for a fifth consecutive defense in probably the most unlucky fashion.
Van’s championship victory transcends the game’s technical elements. For hundreds of thousands of Asian viewers worldwide, his triumph represents representation at the best level of combat sports. At just 24 years and 57 days old, he trails only Jon Jones among the many youngest champions in UFC history, cementing his legacy as considered one of the promotion’s most compelling figures.