Joshua Van Bio
Joshua Van Bawi Thawng (born October 10, 2001) is a Burmese and American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fighting under the ring name “The Fearless,” he became the first Burmese fighter ever signed to the UFC roster. As of July 1, 2025, he holds the No. 1 spot in the UFC flyweight rankings, positioning him among the top contenders in one of the promotion’s most talent-rich divisions. He represents Houston, Texas, and trains out of 4oz. Fight Club.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Van Bawi Thawng was born on October 10, 2001, in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar, and grew up in a family of five siblings. His early years in Myanmar were shaped by the country’s military and political conflict, which made daily life difficult for many families in the region. When he was ten years old, his family left Myanmar for Malaysia, hoping to find better opportunities and a safer environment. The relocation marked the first of several major transitions that would define his upbringing.
In 2013, at the age of twelve, Van and his family migrated again, this time to the United States, settling in Houston, Texas. There, they began building a new life in a foreign country, and Van later came to embrace a dual Burmese and American identity. His father passed away in 2017, and as of July 2025, he lives with his mother. Van is a practicing Christian, and his faith has remained a steady part of his personal identity throughout his athletic career.
Path to MMA
Van made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2021, stepping into the sport with a clear ambition to compete at the highest levels. Early in his career, he fought exclusively for Fury Fighting Championship (Fury FC), a regional promotion that gave him a steady stream of opponents and experience. During this developmental stretch, he built a 7-1 record and steadily refined his skills as a flyweight, learning the value of consistent fight exposure.
One of the most important milestones of his early career came on December 18, 2022, at Fury FC 72, where he headlined the event and submitted Cleveland McLean in the second round to capture the promotion’s Flyweight title. That championship win signaled his readiness for a bigger stage. His growing reputation eventually caught the attention of UFC matchmakers, and the promotion invited him to compete, making him the first Burmese fighter ever signed to the UFC.
Joshua Van Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
From 2021 through 2022, Joshua Van established himself as a fast-rising flyweight on the regional circuit. Competing primarily under the Fury Fighting Championship banner, he faced a wide range of opponents and built a 7-1 professional record. The run included finishes, decisions, and main-event opportunities that helped him develop the well-rounded game he would later showcase in the UFC.
His December 2022 victory over Cleveland McLean for the Fury FC Flyweight title was the defining moment of his pre-UFC career, capping a strong developmental stretch and confirming he could handle the pressure of a championship main event. The title win gave him the momentum and résumé needed to attract interest from major promotions, and it laid the foundation for his eventual move to the UFC.
UFC Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Van entered the UFC in 2023 and quickly proved he belonged. Although he was originally scheduled to face Kevin Borjas at Dana White’s Contender Series 57, he was pulled from that bout in order to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC on ABC 5 on June 24, 2023, where he won by split decision. Just months later, on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295, he faced Borjas in a rescheduled matchup and won by unanimous decision, picking up back-to-back UFC victories to begin his tenure.
In 2024, Van began to settle into a rhythm inside the Octagon. He replaced Denys Bondar and defeated Felipe Bunes by second-round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 234 on January 13, 2024. A planned bout against Lucas Rocha at UFC Fight Night 240 fell through after Rocha withdrew due to injury, and another scheduled fight against Su Mudaerji at UFC 302 was also scrapped before Van was moved to UFC on ESPN 58, where his bout against Tagir Ulanbekov was canceled when Ulanbekov missed weight. Van then faced Charles Johnson at UFC on ESPN 59 on July 13, 2024, and suffered a third-round knockout loss, his first defeat inside the UFC. He bounced back on September 14, 2024, at UFC 306, where he defeated Édgar Cháirez by unanimous decision, and closed the year with a unanimous decision win over Cody Durden at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024.
UFC Top Contender Era (2025–Present)
The 2025 calendar marked a major step up in competition for Van. On March 8, 2025, at UFC 313, he faced Rei Tsuruya after Bruno Gustavo da Silva withdrew, and he won by unanimous decision. He then finished his long-anticipated bout with Bruno Gustavo da Silva on June 7, 2025, at UFC 316, winning by technical knockout late in the third round, one of the most decisive finishes of his UFC run.
Just three weeks later, Van stepped in on short notice to face former LFA Flyweight Champion and UFC title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, after Manel Kape withdrew with a broken foot. Van won by unanimous decision, and the performance earned him his first Fight of the Night award. He and Royval combined for 419 significant strikes, breaking the UFC record for most significant strikes landed in a three-round fight and in a flyweight bout. By July 1, 2025, he had climbed to No. 1 in the UFC flyweight rankings, and he is scheduled to challenge champion Alexandre Pantoja for the Flyweight Championship at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Van is best known for his relentless pace, sharp striking, and ability to mix in grappling exchanges across a full three rounds of action. His willingness to engage in high-volume striking battles, combined with his cardio and composure, has made him a difficult matchup for established flyweights. Training out of 4oz. Fight Club in Houston has helped him refine the balanced skill set that has carried him into title contention.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Van’s signature achievements are his status as the first Burmese fighter signed to the UFC, his No. 1 ranking in the flyweight division as of July 2025, and his record-setting 419 significant strikes landed in the win over Brandon Royval at UFC 317. He has also earned a Fight of the Night award and a date with champion Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship.
Joshua Van Career Wins
Joshua Van has compiled a strong professional record of 15 wins and 2 losses across 17 total bouts. His victories include 6 by decision, 1 by knockout, and 1 by submission, with the remaining wins coming through additional finishes and decisions at the regional and UFC levels. His recent stretch inside the UFC has been particularly impressive, marked by multiple unanimous decision wins and a late third-round technical knockout of Bruno Gustavo da Silva.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Van has stacked up notable wins over Zhalgas Zhumagulov, Kevin Borjas, Felipe Bunes, Édgar Cháirez, Cody Durden, Rei Tsuruya, Bruno Gustavo da Silva, and Brandon Royval. His first UFC win came by split decision over Zhumagulov in 2023, and his most recent victory came via unanimous decision over Royval at UFC 317 in 2025. That bout against Royval also produced his first Fight of the Night bonus.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Van went 7-1 under the Fury Fighting Championship banner, including a second-round submission of Cleveland McLean at Fury FC 72 to win the promotion’s Flyweight title in December 2022. Those regional performances established him as a top flyweight prospect and paved the way for his historic signing with the UFC.
Joshua Van Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joshua Van Bawi Thawng was raised in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar, as part of a family of five siblings. His family left Myanmar for Malaysia when he was ten years old, before settling in Houston, Texas, in 2013, when he was twelve. These major relocations shaped his early life and gave him the opportunity to pursue his athletic dreams in the United States.
Personal Life
Van currently resides in Houston, Texas, and trains out of 4oz. Fight Club. His father passed away in 2017, and as of July 2025, he lives with his mother. He is a Christian, and his Burmese and American heritage remains a central part of his personal and public identity.
2025 Season Performance
Joshua Van’s 2025 campaign has been the strongest of his career to date. He opened the year with a unanimous decision win over Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313 in March, then followed it up with a late third-round technical knockout of Bruno Gustavo da Silva at UFC 316 in June. The performances pushed him closer to title contention and sharpened his reputation as one of the most dangerous rising flyweights in the UFC.
The highlight of his 2025 season came on June 28 at UFC 317, when he stepped in on three weeks’ notice to beat former title challenger Brandon Royval by unanimous decision. The win earned Van his first Fight of the Night bonus and, combined with the record-setting 419 significant strikes landed in the bout, vaulted him to No. 1 in the UFC flyweight rankings as of July 1, 2025.
Looking ahead, Van is scheduled to challenge Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025. With momentum, ranking, and form all on his side, he enters the title fight as one of the most talked-about contenders in the division and a strong candidate to bring championship gold back to Houston.