From 'disappointment' to champion: How Joshua Van ...
Key takeaways
- "I will go to the cemetery with my mom, but I usually stay in the car," Van told ESPN.
- Van (16-2) looks to defend his 125-pound championship against Tatsuro Taira (18-1) at UFC 328 on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
- Van was born and spent his formative years in Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country that has endured decades of civil conflict and instability.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Joshua Van beat Alexandre Pantoja for the men's flyweight title at UFC 323 to become the second-youngest champion in UFC history. Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLCBrett Okamoto May 6, 2026, 10:00 AM ETClose Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mc Gregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTwo days after winning the UFC's flyweight championship in December, Joshua Van stood at his father's grave in Houston. It was his first visit since December 2022, when he won a regional title with Fury Fighting Championship.
"I will go to the cemetery with my mom, but I usually stay in the car," Van told ESPN. "I only go in when I accomplish something big. I was nothing but a disappointment when he was alive, you know what I mean?"
Van (16-2) looks to defend his 125-pound championship against Tatsuro Taira (18-1) at UFC 328 on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey. The 24-year-old has amassed a 9-1 record in less than three years in the UFC and last year became the second-youngest champion in UFC history behind Jon Jones, who first held a title at 23. Van is at the top of his game but is still a man motivated by his past.