Van Ready To Prove First Pantoja Win Not A Fluke

Joshua Van is ready to settle questions about his flyweight title reign when he rematches Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331.

Van won the belt when Pantoja sustained an injury during their first meeting, leaving fans to wonder what would happen in a full fight. The rematch aims to answer that question definitively. According to BJ Penn, Van acknowledged the stakes in a recent interview, saying the bout will determine whether his championship run was legitimate.

Van Addresses Pantoja's Recent Comments

Van expressed frustration with Pantoja's evolving narrative. He noted that the Brazilian was respectful immediately after their first encounter, even telling him it was his destiny to become champion. But Pantoja later told media outlets that Van beat him as a fighter but not as a man, a distinction that confused the current titleholder. "I don't get where he's coming at," Van said, per MMA Junkie.

The 28-year-old champion maintains the first bout was legitimate despite how it ended. He pointed to the training camps and everything fighters endure to reach fight night as part of the competition itself. Van said he believes he is the better man and invited Pantoja to prove otherwise.

UFC 331 takes place later this year with the flyweight title on the line. Van enters as the defending champion looking to cement his status at 125 pounds, while Pantoja seeks to reclaim the belt he considers his.

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• BJPenn — Joshua Van is ready to prove he isn’t a fluke champion in Alexandre Pantoja rematch