Joshua Van

Joshua Van Bawi Thawng, known professionally as Joshua Van and nicknamed "The Fearless," is a Burmese-American mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division of the UFC.

Van was born in Hakha, in Myanmar's Chin State, and fled the country as a child amid political and military conflict, spending time in a refugee camp in Malaysia before his family resettled in Southwest Houston, Texas. Introduced to combat sports as a teenager, he trained largely on his own before connecting with coach Daniel Pineda at 4oz Fight Club in Houston, the gym that shaped him into a professional and remains his training home.

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, Van built his early reputation on the Texas regional circuit, winning the Fury FC flyweight championship before signing with the UFC as the first fighter born in Myanmar to compete in the promotion. His ascent earned him Breakout Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Year recognition from multiple major MMA outlets.

A high-output, freestyle striker, Van presses opponents behind constant forward volume, sharp combinations, and heavy hands, while also carrying genuine submission ability on the ground. His pace and finishing instinct have made him one of the most dangerous flyweights in the world, equally capable of ending a fight in the opening moments or breaking an opponent down deep into a five-round main event.

Van's signature performance came in a short-notice bout against Brandon Royval at UFC 317, a back-and-forth war later honored as Fight of the Year. That showing earned him a title opportunity against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323, where Van claimed the UFC flyweight championship. He made his first successful title defense against Tatsuro Taira in a bout also recognized among the year's best.

In winning the belt, Van became one of the youngest champions in UFC history and the first male champion born in Myanmar, establishing himself as a pioneer for the sport's Southeast Asian and Chin diaspora communities. Blending Houston grit with the fearless self-belief behind his nickname, Van stands as one of the flyweight division's most electrifying and historically significant champions.