Joshua Van expressed surprise at comments made by Alexandre Pantoja following their UFC 328 fight. Van stated they had a respectful interaction before the bout, and he attempted to shake Pantoja's hand. Van says he didn't initially see Pantoja's injury during the fight and only noticed it after celebrating, at which point he apologized. Pantoja also apologized, but then later posted videos suggesting Van was lucky and that it was destiny for Van to become champion. Van maintains respect for Pantoja as a champion but was shocked by these subsequent comments. Van also noted that Pantoja, as a black belt, should have known how to fall properly without extending his arm.
Joshua Van says he was caught off guard by Alexandre Pantoja's public remarks in the days following their flyweight title fight at UFC 328 on May 9.
Van, who now holds the UFC flyweight championship at just 24 years old, says the pre-fight interaction between the two men was cordial and that he attempted to shake Pantoja's hand after their bout concluded. The Myanmar-born fighter, who trains out of 4oz. Fight Club and carries a 17-2-0 record, told interviewers he did not notice Pantoja's injury during the fight itself and only became aware of it after he had already begun celebrating. He says he apologized as soon as he realized what had happened.
Pantoja, a 36-year-old Brazilian veteran fighting out of American Top Team, entered the contest ranked first in the flyweight division and fourth pound-for-pound with a professional record of 30-6-0. He is widely regarded as one of the best flyweights in the sport's history, and he had held the championship before dropping it to Van.
According to Van, Pantoja initially apologized as well, but subsequently posted videos online implying that Van was fortunate to win and framing the outcome as destiny. Van said he was surprised by those follow-up comments given the mutual respect he believed the two had shown each other. Van also pointed out that Pantoja, as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, would typically be expected to understand how to break a fall safely without extending his arm.
Van says he continues to hold Pantoja in high regard as a former champion, but the remarks left him genuinely puzzled.
Why it matters
- Van's championship reign begins with a public rift that could set up a rematch narrative at flyweight
- Pantoja's pound-for-pound ranking and divisional status at number one mean any further comments from him carry significant weight in shaping the division
- The injury dispute adds an unusual layer of complexity to what both men described as an otherwise respectful buildup
Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja
See the AI pick, live odds and the full matchup breakdown
Saturday, May 9, 2026
