Joshua Van went from unranked to UFC champion in 2025.
Van (16-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) logged four fights in the year, before capping things off by capturing the UFC flyweight title. It was a rather anticlimactic championship win for the 24-year-old, but his rise has been undeniable nonetheless.
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His year started with a unanimous decision win over Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313 in March, then his second octagon finish over Bruno Silva just three months later at UFC 316. Van would follow that up with an even quicker turnaround, where he returned just three weeks later in a big step up in competition against former title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317 in June.
Van ended up outlasting Royval in one of the best fights of the year to earn himself a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja. In 2025, Van found himself competing only on pay-per-view events with an opportunity to take on one of the most dominant champions in the UFC.
The big moment arrived for Van in the final pay-per-view event of the year at UFC 323 earlier this month, but it only lasted 26 seconds. Pantoja suffered a gruesome arm injury after Van caught his kick and returned him to the mat, resulting in a TKO win for Van. With Pantoja’s timetable for a return unknown, Van is already ready to jump back into action after trading barbs with top contender Manel Kape.
At only 24, Van became the second youngest champion in UFC history after an incredible year rising to stardom. He is also the first Asian-born male UFC champion.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie’s 2025 Breakout Fighter of the Year: Joshua Van
