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Joshua Van Is Built For This
Despite Being Just 22 Years Old, Joshua Van Feels Within Touching Distance Of A Title Shot If He Can Get The Win At UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira
When the first call to Joshua Van went to voicemail, I assumed the modern day “Cowboy” Cerrone was just trying to find somebody to fight.
“You know it, bro,” Van laughed after calling back. “We stay ready around here.”
EVERYBODY says that, but when Van turned around from his January win over Felipe Bunes, his third fight in less than seven months on the UFC roster, he was throwing his name in the hat whenever a flyweight lost an opponent.
Unfortunately, prospective bouts with Lucas Rocha and Sumudaerji didn’t pan out, and he even offered to fight unbeaten hot prospect Tatsuro Taira earlier this month, proving that some talk it, but only a select few walk it.
“I asked for everybody man,” said Van. “Anybody could get it.”
Van was even asking for a fight the week after he stopped Bunes.
“It was crazy because I told them I want to fight next week, but nobody wants to sign a contract.”
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Would you? The 22-year-old native of Myanmar, who now makes his home in Houston, is a fighter’s fighter in attitude and action. And he’s only been doing this since he was 19, so the reality that he’s only going to get better is a scary one for his peers in the flyweight division. Still, it came as a bit of a surprise to some that for his 12th pro fight – and fourth in the UFC – he wanted a piece of Japan’s Taira. Not to the man nicknamed “The Fearless."
“I was always built that way,” he said. “Whoever, whenever. So I wasn't surprised when they called me; as a matter of fact, I asked for that fight. He’s good and he’s undefeated. Nobody can seem to figure him out. So I want to be the first guy.”
He won’t be. At least not this Saturday night. Instead, Taira will be headlining the UFC Fight Night event at the UFC APEX against former world title challenger Alex Perez, while Van takes on Tagir Ulanbekov in an equally intriguing fight, considering the Russian’s pedigree and number 12 ranking (one slot higher than Taira’s).
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“We're in the best division in the UFC, so it’s very exciting,” said Van, who had to be watching when Australia’s Steve Erceg gave champion Alexandre Pantoja a run for his money at UFC 301 despite having only three previous Octagon appearances. Van has three UFC bouts under his belt, and if he beats Ulanbekov, that will make him 4-0. Is he thinking title shot?
“Not really,” he said. “I think after this one I probably need one or two more to get the title. So after this we go back and then we talk about the next matchup. But I think I probably need two more.”
It’s a realistic response from a fighter intent on keeping an unrealistic schedule of fighting as often as his body will let him. And as long as someone will fight him. That’s got to be a compliment, to be the kid no one wants to fight, right?
“Nah, it’s annoying,” Van laughs. “That's how we make money, man. I'm here to make money.”
UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira took place live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 15, 2024. See the final Prelim and Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
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