Joshua Van revealed he did not sleep from Saturday evening until Sunday night following his UFC 328 victory. After returning to his hotel around 2:30 AM, he checked out at 5:30 AM to head to the airport. Upon arriving home, Van met with members of his church congregation who prayed for him. The new flyweight champion described the experience as a continuous series of prayers, emphasizing his gratitude to God. Van also mentioned he had not spent much time on social media since the fight.
Joshua Van spent the hours following his UFC 328 flyweight title victory not sleeping, but praying — revealing in a recent interview that he stayed awake from Saturday evening all the way through to Sunday night after claiming the championship belt on May 9.
The 24-year-old from Myanmar returned to his hotel around 2:30 AM after the fight, checked out just three hours later at 5:30 AM, and headed straight to the airport. Once he made it home, Van was met by members of his church congregation, and the group moved into an extended session of prayer. He described the experience as one continuous flow of gratitude to God, offering thanks for his historic night. Van also noted he had largely stayed off social media in the days following the bout.
Now the reigning UFC flyweight champion, Van carries a 17-2 record and fights out of 4oz. Fight Club under the nickname "The Fearless." Standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach and fighting out of an orthodox stance, he has built his reputation on relentless striking output — landing an extraordinary 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate, numbers that rank among the most dangerous in the 125-pound division.
Why it matters
- Van's title win marks a landmark moment for Myanmar, a country with a rapidly growing MMA following
- At just 24 years old, he has the potential to define the flyweight division for years to come
- His elite striking volume sets a high bar for any future challenger looking to disrupt his reign
Saturday, May 9, 2026
