Joshua Van was incredibly bold for stepping in the Octagon with Brandon Royval at UFC 317 in June.
Royval, the flyweight division’s No. 1 contender at the time, had originally been set to meet Manel Kape on the card. When Kape was sidelined with an injury, however, Myanmar’s Van agreed to step in on short notice.
Van, who was just 21 days removed from a knockout of Bruno Silva at the time, had recently entered the division’s top 15, but he was facing a gargantuan step up in competition.
Royval, a former title challenger, was unlike anyone he’d ever fought before, with ample experience against the best in the division, and finishing prowess on the mat and on the feet. The short-notice circumstances made circumstances even tougher for Van.
It’s safe to say Van rose to the occasion, though. He showed no fear of the No. 1 contender and met him in the middle of the Octagon, where they remained for the majority of a frenetic, 15-minute slugfest.
Royval was every bit the challenge we expected him to be and outlanded his young opponent 215 strikes to 204. However, Van landed the more impactful strikes—including a crucial knockdown in Round 3—which helped lead him to a split-decision victory that cemented him as the next man in line for flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
It’s possible Van will shock the world again when he meets Pantoja at a still undetermined date later this year or early next. Yet no matter the outcome of that matchup, he can take pride in his role in one of the best UFC fights of the 2020s—just like Royval can in defeat.