Alexandre Pantoja entered UFC 323 as the reigning flyweight champion, defending his title for the fifth time against rising contender Joshua Van at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Pantoja, with a record of 30-5, had established himself as one of the most dominant fighters at 125 pounds, earning the No. 4 spot in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings. Since 2020, he had successfully beaten multiple top-10 opponents and defended his title four straight times, the longest streak among current UFC champions.
Joshua Van, 15-2, represented the next generation of flyweights. The 24-year-old made his professional debut in 2021, years after Pantoja had already fought 29 bouts. Despite his shorter career, Van quickly became a force in the division, competing 17 times in four years and winning eight of his nine UFC fights. His victory over Brandon Royval, a fight widely regarded as one of the best of the year, earned him this title opportunity. A win here would make him the second-youngest UFC champion in history, behind only Jon Jones.
Round 1
Referee Herb Dean oversaw the championship clash. The fight began with Pantoja aggressively throwing leg kicks and exchanging punches, looking to assert his dominance early. Van surprised many by immediately attempting a grapple. Pantoja responded with a high kick, but Van caught it and executed a well-timed trip.
The exchange took a dramatic turn as Pantoja appeared to suffer an arm injury while being tripped. He signaled to the referee that he could not continue. The fight was immediately stopped, handing Joshua Van a stunning first-round victory and crowning him the new UFC flyweight champion.
Official Result
Joshua Van def. Alexandre Pantoja via TKO (arm injury) – Round 1, 0:26
After the fight, Van addressed the crowd and UFC audience, saying, “Now the world will never forget Joshua Van and the people of Myanmar, now the world will know of us. And I love you, mom!” His words celebrated both his personal triumph and national pride, highlighting the emotional significance of the victory.
Watch the highlights below:
ALEXANDRE PANTOJA BREAKS HIS ARM…
JOSHUA VAN IS THE NEW UFC FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION #UFC323 pic.twitter.com/iVIluueWKI
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 7, 2025
Joshua Van defeats Alexandre Pantoja to become the new UFC flyweight champion.
Pantoja suffered an arm injury in the first round which resulted in the stoppage. #UFC323 pic.twitter.com/g5U7Euthz2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 7, 2025
Alexander Pantoja arm breaking from catching his fall.
Josh Van a champ after landing 1 strike. #UFC323 pic.twitter.com/WCHSgqGuGN
— Jeri Tsai (@JeriTsaiNets) December 7, 2025
