Joshua Van
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:20:22 PM Wikipedia source
Joshua Van Bawi Thawng (Burmese: ယောရှုဗန်ဗာ့ဝိထောင်; born October 10, 2001) is a Burmese and American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Flyweight Champion. Van is the first fighter from Myanmar to sign with the promotion. At UFC 323, he became the UFC's second Asian-born male champion and the first champion to be born in the 2000s. As of May 12, 2026, he is in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
Infobox
Born
Joshua Van Bawi Thawng (2001-10-10) October 10, 2001 Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar
Native name
ယောရှုဗန်ဗာ့ဝိထောင်
Other names
The Fearless
Nationality
Burmese American
Height
5 ft 5 in (1 m)
Weight
125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division
Flyweight
Reach
65 in (165 cm)
Fighting out of
Houston, Texas, U .
Team
4oz. Fight Club
Rank
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active
2021–present
Total
19
Wins
17
By knockout
1
By submission
1
By decision
6
Losses
2
Tables
Professional record breakdown · Mixed martial arts record
By knockout
By knockout
19 matches
By knockout
17 wins
9
2 losses
1
By submission
By submission
19 matches
By submission
17 wins
2
2 losses
1
By decision
By decision
19 matches
By decision
17 wins
6
2 losses
0
| 19 matches | 17 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 6 | 0 |
· Mixed martial arts record
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
17–2
Opponent
Tatsuro Taira
Method
TKO (front kick to the body and punches)
Event
UFC 328
Date
May 9, 2026
Round
5
Time
1:32
Location
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Notes
Defended the UFC Flyweight Championship. Fight of the Night.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
16–2
Opponent
Alexandre Pantoja
Method
TKO (arm injury)
Event
UFC 323
Date
December 6, 2025
Round
1
Time
0:26
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Notes
Won the UFC Flyweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
15–2
Opponent
Brandon Royval
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC 317
Date
June 28, 2025
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Notes
Fight of the Night.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
14–2
Opponent
Bruno Gustavo da Silva
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
UFC 316
Date
June 7, 2025
Round
3
Time
4:01
Location
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
13–2
Opponent
Rei Tsuruya
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC 313
Date
March 8, 2025
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
12–2
Opponent
Cody Durden
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC 310
Date
December 7, 2024
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
11–2
Opponent
Édgar Cháirez
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC 306
Date
September 14, 2024
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
10–2
Opponent
Charles Johnson
Method
KO (punches)
Event
UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez
Date
July 13, 2024
Round
3
Time
0:20
Location
Denver, Colorado, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
10–1
Opponent
Felipe Bunes
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2
Date
January 13, 2024
Round
2
Time
4:31
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
9–1
Opponent
Kevin Borjas
Method
Decision (unanimous)
Event
UFC 295
Date
November 11, 2023
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
New York City, New York, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
8–1
Opponent
Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Method
Decision (split)
Event
UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria
Date
June 24, 2023
Round
3
Time
5:00
Location
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
7–1
Opponent
Cleveland McLean
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Fury FC 72
Date
December 18, 2022
Round
2
Time
4:49
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
Notes
Won the vacant Fury FC Flyweight Championship.
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
6–1
Opponent
Paris Moran
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
Fury FC 67
Date
August 14, 2022
Round
2
Time
0:36
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
5–1
Opponent
Mario Suazo
Method
Submission (calf slicer)
Event
Fury FC 62
Date
May 15, 2022
Round
2
Time
4:23
Location
Castle Rock, Colorado, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
4–1
Opponent
Angelo Trujillo
Method
KO (head kick)
Event
Fury FC 60
Date
April 24, 2022
Round
1
Time
1:36
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
3–1
Opponent
Francisco Obando
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
Fury FC 57
Date
February 11, 2022
Round
1
Time
3:08
Location
Humble, Texas, United States
Loss
Loss
Res.
Loss
Record
2–1
Opponent
Devon Jackson
Method
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Event
Fury FC 55
Date
December 19, 2021
Round
2
Time
4:58
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
2–0
Opponent
Chase Eastham
Method
TKO (punches)
Event
Fury FC 54
Date
November 21, 2021
Round
2
Time
3:24
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
Win
Win
Res.
Win
Record
1–0
Opponent
Tony Esquivel
Method
TKO (knees to the body)
Event
Fury FC 52
Date
October 17, 2021
Round
2
Time
2:14
Location
Houston, Texas, United States
Notes
Flyweight debut.
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 17–2 | Tatsuro Taira | TKO (front kick to the body and punches) | UFC 328 | May 9, 2026 | 5 | 1:32 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Defended the UFC Flyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–2 | Alexandre Pantoja | TKO (arm injury) | UFC 323 | December 6, 2025 | 1 | 0:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won the UFC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–2 | Brandon Royval | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 317 | June 28, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–2 | Bruno Gustavo da Silva | TKO (punches) | UFC 316 | June 7, 2025 | 3 | 4:01 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Rei Tsuruya | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 313 | March 8, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Cody Durden | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 310 | December 7, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Édgar Cháirez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 306 | September 14, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Charles Johnson | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez | July 13, 2024 | 3 | 0:20 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Felipe Bunes | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 | January 13, 2024 | 2 | 4:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Kevin Borjas | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 295 | November 11, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Zhalgas Zhumagulov | Decision (split) | UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria | June 24, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Cleveland McLean | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fury FC 72 | December 18, 2022 | 2 | 4:49 | Houston, Texas, United States | Won the vacant Fury FC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–1 | Paris Moran | TKO (punches) | Fury FC 67 | August 14, 2022 | 2 | 0:36 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Mario Suazo | Submission (calf slicer) | Fury FC 62 | May 15, 2022 | 2 | 4:23 | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Angelo Trujillo | KO (head kick) | Fury FC 60 | April 24, 2022 | 1 | 1:36 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Francisco Obando | TKO (punches) | Fury FC 57 | February 11, 2022 | 1 | 3:08 | Humble, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Devon Jackson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fury FC 55 | December 19, 2021 | 2 | 4:58 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Chase Eastham | TKO (punches) | Fury FC 54 | November 21, 2021 | 2 | 3:24 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Tony Esquivel | TKO (knees to the body) | Fury FC 52 | October 17, 2021 | 2 | 2:14 | Houston, Texas, United States | Flyweight debut. |
· External links
Preceded byAlexandre Pantoja
Preceded byAlexandre Pantoja
Awards and achievements
Preceded byAlexandre Pantoja
Awards and achievements
8th UFC Flyweight Champion
December 6, 2025 – present
Awards and achievements
Incumbent
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded byAlexandre Pantoja | 8th UFC Flyweight Champion December 6, 2025 – present | Incumbent |
References
- Expatriate
- Tapologyhttps://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/254261-joshua-thawng
- wwwhttp://www.ufcstats.com/fighter-details/17e97649403ba428
- bjjdochttps://bjjdoc.com/2025/12/30/joshua-van-got-promoted-to-a-a-3-stripe-blue-belt-in-bjj-following-controversial-ufc-title-win/
- Houston Chroniclehttps://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/ufc-328-joshua-van-houston-country-myanmar-22246722.php
- wwwhttps://www.ufc.com/rankings
- MMA Junkiehttps://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/07/ufc-joshua-van-myanmar-burmese-fighter-journey
- The Playoffshttps://theplayoffs.news/en/where-is-joshua-van-from-and-what-is-his-ethnicity/
- "Fury FC 72 Results - MMASucka"https://mmasucka.com/fury-fc-72-results/
- MMA Fightinghttps://www.mmafighting.com/2023/6/15/23762652/zhalgas-zhumagulov-vs-felipe-bunes-off-ufc-vegas-75-zhumagulov-to-fight-joshua-van-ufc-jacksonville
- "UFC Jacksonville: Newcomer Josh Van Arrives, Takes Split Decision Against Zhalgas Zhumagulov"https://cagesidepress.com/2023/06/24/ufc-jacksonville-zhalgas-zhumagulov-vs-josh-van/
- wwwhttps://www.itnwwe.com/mma/kevin-borjas-ufc-debut-vs-joshua-van-ufc-295/
- Cageside Presshttps://cagesidepress.com/2023/11/11/ufc-295-joshua-van-takes-decision-kevin-borjas-in-active-scrap/
- MMA Junkiehttps://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-news-schedule-2024-vegas-apex-van-semelsberger-santos
- Cageside Presshttps://cagesidepress.com/2024/01/13/ufc-vegas-84-joshua-van-felipe-bunes/
- MMA Fightinghttps://www.mmafighting.com/2024/3/12/24096932/morning-report-demetrious-johnson-believes-anthony-joshua-would-also-beat-francis-ngannou-mma
- Tapologyhttps://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/108721-ufc-fight-night
- Asian MMAhttps://asianmma.com/joshua-van-faces-su-mudaerji-at-ufc-302/
- Sherdoghttps://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Joshua-Van-Announces-UFC-302-Bout-Against-Su-Mudaerji-Has-Been-Canceled-193418
- MMA Junkiehttps://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/04/ufc-302-tatsuro-taira-vs-joshua-van-fight-card