How AgentMMA breaks down Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja
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UFC Record Breakdown
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Performance Breakdown
Performance Breakdown
Last Opponents
Alexandre Pantoja was on an absolute tear heading into December, wrapping up three straight title defenses with that signature rear naked choke against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. Five straight wins with the belt on the line, three of them finished by submission. The Cannibal looked unstoppable, but then UFC 323 happened. Joshua Van earned his shot the hard way, rattling off five straight wins in the UFC including a decision over Brandon Royval at UFC 317. Before that, he knocked out Bruno Silva with ground and pound in the third round. Van's striking volume is crazy.
- Pantoja hunting his fourth straight title defense
- Van riding five-fight win streak into title shot
- Champion's suffocating grappling versus Van's striking volume
If Pantoja gets this to the ground in the championship rounds, that's when the choke becomes inevitable.
He landed 127 of 169 against Rei Tsuruya with a 75% accuracy rate. The 24 year old from Myanmar had momentum and wasn't scared of anyone. Then came the shocker at UFC 323 in December. Van caught Pantoja early, finishing the champion in just 26 seconds of the first round with ground strikes. An arm injury to Pantoja played a role, but Van seized the moment and became the new flyweight king. He followed that up with another statement at UFC 328 in May, knocking out Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round with punches at distance.
Van landed 190 of 269 strikes in that fight with 71% accuracy, showing he can go five hard rounds and finish strong. Now the rematch is set for UFC 331 in Los Angeles on September 19. Pantoja wants his belt back and has been vocal about being ready for the challenge. Van, meanwhile, has been teasing that fans still haven't seen his full grappling game. He's confident he can submit Pantoja this time around, saying he expects to take the fight to the ground and finish it in the clinch or on the mat. The first fight ended too quickly for any real grappling exchanges, so this rematch should answer a lot of questions about Van's ground game against elite competition.
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Joshua Van
Joshua Van finish map
UFC Record Breakdown
Joshua Van breakdown
Performance Breakdown
Joshua Van's recent form
Alexandre Pantoja was on an absolute tear heading into December, wrapping up three straight title defenses with that signature rear naked choke against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. Five straight wins with the belt on the line, three of them finished by submission. The Cannibal looked unstoppable, but then UFC 323 happened. Joshua Van earned his shot the hard way, rattling off five straight wins in the UFC including a decision over Brandon Royval at UFC 317. Before that, he knocked out Bruno Silva with ground and pound in the third round. Van's striking volume is crazy.
- Pantoja hunting his fourth straight title defense
- Van riding five-fight win streak into title shot
- Champion's suffocating grappling versus Van's striking volume
If Pantoja gets this to the ground in the championship rounds, that's when the choke becomes inevitable.
He landed 127 of 169 against Rei Tsuruya with a 75% accuracy rate. The 24 year old from Myanmar had momentum and wasn't scared of anyone. Then came the shocker at UFC 323 in December. Van caught Pantoja early, finishing the champion in just 26 seconds of the first round with ground strikes. An arm injury to Pantoja played a role, but Van seized the moment and became the new flyweight king. He followed that up with another statement at UFC 328 in May, knocking out Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round with punches at distance.
Van landed 190 of 269 strikes in that fight with 71% accuracy, showing he can go five hard rounds and finish strong. Now the rematch is set for UFC 331 in Los Angeles on September 19. Pantoja wants his belt back and has been vocal about being ready for the challenge. Van, meanwhile, has been teasing that fans still haven't seen his full grappling game. He's confident he can submit Pantoja this time around, saying he expects to take the fight to the ground and finish it in the clinch or on the mat. The first fight ended too quickly for any real grappling exchanges, so this rematch should answer a lot of questions about Van's ground game against elite competition.
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Loading secure checkout…Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre Pantoja finish map
UFC Record Breakdown
Alexandre Pantoja breakdown
Performance Breakdown
Alexandre Pantoja's recent form
