23-Year-Old Delivers Dominant Performance, Earns Flyweight Title Shot at UFC 317
On a night full of turning points at UFC 317, one of the loudest statements came from the youngest fighter on the main card.
In front of a packed T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025, 23-year-old Joshua Van took on veteran Brandon Royval in a flyweight clash with major title implications.
Royval, the former title challenger with a 16–7 record, entered the Octagon with experience, flair, and the pressure to deliver.
Van, widely seen as a rising talent, was stepping into the biggest spotlight of his career during UFC’s International Fight Week.
Van Shows Precision, Power, and Patience
The fight started with back-and-forth chaos — as expected in the flyweight division.
Royval found early success with movement and high-volume striking, but Van stayed composed and started making key adjustments by round two.
By mixing low side kicks to Royval’s lead leg, Van disrupted his opponent’s rhythm and took away his mobility. It paid off.
He dropped Royval with a clean right hand in the third and controlled the action with sharp combinations and solid cage pressure.
The official scores: 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 — a dominant win for Van.
Fighters React on X
UFC pros and analysts were quick to weigh in:
@MAKHACHEVMMA: “What a fight! Crazyyy flyweights!”
@bullyb170: “That was a crazy war.”
@ThaWeasle: “One of the best fights of the year! Joshua Van adjusted with the low side kick and took out Royval’s balance multiple times. Dropped him later. The new Flyweight title challenger is Joshua Van. #UFC317”
@GilbertDurinho: “Joshua Van reminds me so much of Rodtang!”
Post-Fight Mic Moment
After the win, Van didn’t hold back.
“The winner of the title fight between Pantoja and KKF tonight has to see me.”
With this performance, Van likely secures the next shot at UFC gold — becoming the new #1 contender in one of the UFC’s most electric divisions.
International Fight Week Shake-Ups
UFC 317 also featured other big moments, including Beneil Dariush’s gritty decision win over Renato Moicano after two knockout losses. Read about that comeback here.
Earlier, Payton Talbott proved he’s more than just hype, outpointing Felipe Lima in a must-win spot. That full story is here.
Meanwhile, a shocking stoppage left a middleweight veteran on the canvas — see how that happened.
The Flyweight Division Gets a New Face
With Royval’s run paused and Van’s rise confirmed, the 125-lb division has a fresh, young contender ready to challenge for gold.
The only question now is: will it be Pantoja or Kai Kara-France who meets him first?
📊 For full fight results and rankings, visit the official UFC website.
