Being knocked out is not supposed to be the greatest thing that ever happened to you.
For UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van, however, one brutal beating changed everything.
UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 | SUN 20 SEPTEMBER 11AM AEST | The UFC returns to Los Angeles for a blockbuster title showdown, as Joshua Van defends his crown against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch for the ages. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Van was flattened by a Charles Johnson uppercut just 20 seconds into the third round of their 2024 fight in Denver – the first and only time he has been stopped in his pro career.
Yet rather than derail his UFC rise, “The Fearless” believes the loss helped turn him into a world champion.
“That loss is probably the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” Van told Fox Sports Australia.
“It humbled me and made me become a better fighter.
“Now I have more discipline and I basically found myself. I found myself and I know who I am now.”
Since then, Van has reeled off seven straight wins, captured UFC gold and defended it against Tatsuro Taira.
Now he gets another crack at Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 – and the chance to silence any doubts surrounding the strange finish that delivered him the belt.
Van became the second-youngest champ in UFC history when his first meeting with Pantoja ended after just 26 seconds.
Pantoja suffered an elbow injury when he landed awkwardly after Van caught one of his kicks, bringing both the fight and the Brazilian’s title reign to an end.
The freak finish left some questioning whether Van had truly earned the crown.
Van says he isn’t really interested in debating it. He simply plans to beat Pantoja again.
“I just have to win,” he said.
“Just have to whoop his ass and show the world that I am still the best flyweight in the world.”
The belt may now be around his waist, but Van says nothing has really changed.
“I’m still the hunter for sure,” he said.
“Still the same mentality as every other fight.”
As for what he learned from those 26 seconds with Pantoja? Not much.
“Twenty-six seconds, we can’t really tell,” Van said.
“We couldn’t even get the rhythm of the fight going.”
Pantoja, meanwhile, is desperate to reclaim the belt he defended four times before that freak injury ruined his night.
And while Van joked that another lightning-fast finish was possible, he expects to meet a more dangerous version of the former champ.
“Everything is possible, man,” Van said.
“But I think this is going to be the best Pantoja we’ve seen because I think he’s hungrier than ever.
“I can’t wait to see him in the cage.”
There is also considerably more heat between the two men this time around.
Van and Pantoja had to be separated during a fiery UFC 331 press conference after trading insults on stage.
Pantoja accused the champ of attempting to play a “tough guy” character, while Van repeatedly told him to sit down before reviving his cheeky advice that the Brazilian should drink more milk to strengthen his bones.
“That day I decided to have fun,” he said.
“I was just having fun.”
“People talk about, ‘He got in his head’ and things like that, but a fight’s a fight.
“Sometimes in the face-off guys can look scared, but when the fight comes, they show up.
“We can’t really tell just by the face-off and the press conference.”
As for whether the milk gag might reappear during fight week?
Van laughed before offering Pantoja another warning.
“Maybe [I’ll say] I’ll break his other arm or something,” he said.
“I don’t know why I said that, but it was funny.”
Van also has a big-name backer in Aussie featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, who tipped him to win the rematch and declared the youngster has some of the best combinations in the sport.
“It’s great to hear that from Volk,” Van said.
“I watched him train in DC one time and I learned a lot from him. The way he moves is so simple, but it’s so effective.
“Much respect to him.”
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The last time Van was knocked out, it changed his career.
Now he is predicting a finish of his own.
“I finish Pantoja inside three rounds.”