UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van has dominated the division in recent years, becoming the first fighter to defeat former dominant champion Alexandre Pantoja in five years. His rise to the top has been nothing short of remarkable.
Van has secured 10 victories with the promotion in under three years, with his sole defeat coming via a surprising knockout to Charles Johnson. Since then, he has established himself as the UFC’s premier fighter in the weight class and is scheduled to defend his title against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
A victory over Taira could cement Van’s status as one of the UFC’s all-time greats, though many are only now discovering his extraordinary backstory.
At 24 years old, Van is the UFC’s second-youngest champion in history behind Jon Jones. He was born in Hakha, the capital of Chin State in Myanmar.
Van’s early life was marked by hardship and instability amid conflict in the region. During his formative years, northern Myanmar experienced multiple major offensives involving various military factions in what resembled a civil war.
Before turning nine, Van’s parents made the difficult decision to leave the country, first escaping to Malaysia before ultimately settling in Houston. Although raised primarily in Texas, Van takes pride in representing Myanmar, though he is currently prohibited from carrying the flag due to it not being classified as a ‘recognized nation.’
Addressing the matter last year, Van explained: “It’s not the UFC. They have some member who has to approve it. I forgot what the name is, but they have to approve that Myanmar is a country. Myanmar is a country.”
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948.
The country has experienced ongoing turmoil since the 1980s, with additional upheaval occurring in 2021. Van remains optimistic about eventually being permitted to display the flag in the UFC, saying: “I really want to carry my flag inside the octagon, so we’re just waiting for them to confirm it.
“We’ve been doing that, we’ve been trying to get my flag ever since I got to the UFC,” Van added. “So hopefully by my next fight, I get to carry my own flag.”