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Joshua Van

American mixed martial artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Joshua Van Bawi Thawng (born October 10, 2001), is a Burmese and American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the first Burmese fighter to sign with the promotion.[3] As of July 1, 2025, he is #1 in the UFC flyweight rankings.[4]

Quick facts Born, Other names ...
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Background

Van was born in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar to a family of five siblings. Due to a country ridden with military and political conflict, his family moved to Malaysia at the age of ten in search of better opportunities. In 2013, at the age of twelve, Van and his family migrated to Houston, Texas, where they began building a new life.[5][6]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

Van made his professional MMA debut in 2021. He fought exclusively for Fury Fighting Championship, where he acquired a 7-1 record including in the main event of Fury FC 72 on December 18, 2022, where he submitted Cleveland McLean in the second round to win the promotion's Flyweight title.[7]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Before his debut, Van was scheduled to face Kevin Borjas on August 8, 2023, at Dana White's Contender Series 57, but he was pulled in order to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC on ABC 5 on June 24, 2023.[8] He won the fight by split decision.[9]

The bout between Van and Borjas was rescheduled on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295.[10] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[11]

Van faced Felipe Bunes, replacing Denys Bondar on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234.[12] He won the fight by second-round technical knockout.[13]

Van was scheduled to face Lucas Rocha, replacing Jose Johnson on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240.[14] However, Rocha withdrew due to injury and the bout was scrapped.[15]

Van was scheduled to face Su Mudaerji on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302.[16] However, Su pulled out in late April due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Tatsuro Taira.[17][18] In turn, both fighters were moved to UFC on ESPN 58 on June 15, 2024 and Van ended up being scheduled to face Tagir Ulanbekov instead.[19] However, the bout was cancelled when Ulanbekov weighed in at 129.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit.[20]

Van faced Charles Johnson on July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59.[21] He lost the fight via knockout in the third round.[22]

Van faced Édgar Cháirez, replacing Kevin Borjas on September 14, 2024, at UFC 306.[23] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[24]

Van faced Cody Durden on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[26]

Van was scheduled to face Bruno Gustavo da Silva on March 8, 2025, at UFC 313.[27] However, Silva pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Road to UFC Season 2 flyweight winner Rei Tsuruya.[28] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[29]

Van's bout with Bruno Gustavo da Silva was re-scheduled and took place on June 7, 2025 at UFC 316.[30] Van won the fight by technical knockout late into the third round.[31]

Van stepped in on three weeks short notice to face former LFA Flyweight Champion and UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, after Manel Kape was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a broken foot.[32] Van won the fight against Royval by unanimous decision.[33] This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award.[34] Van and Royval landed a total of 419 significant strikes, which broke the record for most significant strikes landed in a three-round UFC fight and flyweight bout.[35]

Van is scheduled to compete for the Flyweight Championship against current champion Alexandre Pantoja on December 6, 2025 at UFC 323.[36]

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Personal life

Van's father died in 2017 and as of July 2025, lives with his mother.[37] Van is a Christian.[38][39]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
17 matches 15 wins 2 losses
By knockout 7 1
By submission 2 1
By decision 6 0
More information Res., Record ...

[43]

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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Expatriate

References

External links

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