MMA Junkie has live coverage of UFC 323 with round-by-round analysis of every fight.
One of the most anticipated UFC flyweight title fights in recent memory ended in anticlimactic fashion, and with a new champion.
Advertisement
Joshua Van is the new titleholder after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a gruesome arm injury attempting to brace his fall to the canvas during a takedown attempt just seconds into their UFC 323 co-main event fight Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Van (16-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) caught a Pantoja (30-6 MMA, 14-4 UFC) kick. As Pantoja tried to post, his arm popped – and the fight was over just 26 seconds into the bout. Pantoja apologized profusely as he clutched his injured limb and was escorted out of the cage. It’s unclear what his injury was exactly but various angles captured by the UFC appeared to show a pop or snap.
Despite the way it played out, Van was thrilled to have gold around his waist. His family, manager, and coaches joined him in the cage as he sported the Myanmar flag, signifying not only the first fighter from his home country to hold UFC gold but also the first Asia-born male champion in the promotion’s history. Van also became the second-youngest champion in UFC history.
Advertisement
It’s unclear where the division will go from here, but a relatively fresh Tatsuro Taira was shown on the broadcast following Van’s victory. Taira defeated Brandon Moreno by second-round TKO earlier on the card.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 323 results:
-
Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja via TKO (injury) – Round 1, 0:26 – to win flyweight title
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 323: Joshua Van wins title after early gruesome injury
