Joshua Van Eyes Glory with Bold Move at UFC 317
You know, sometimes the most defining moments in a fighter’s career come when they least expect it. That’s exactly where Joshua Van finds himself right now. Fresh off a stunning stoppage win over Bruno Silva at UFC 316, Van got a phone call that would change everything: Manel Kape was injured, Brandon Royval needed a new opponent at UFC 317—and the UFC asked if Van would step up. And just like that, with barely 24 hours of rest, Van said what he always says when offered a fight: yes .
What makes this moment so wild isn’t just the speed of the turnaround—it’s who he’s fighting. Brandon Royval isn’t just some random opponent. He’s the No. 1 ranked flyweight in the world. He’s already challenged for the title, and most guys would hesitate at the thought of facing him on three weeks’ notice. But not Van. To him, this is a divine opportunity. He sees this as a chance to skip the line, take out the top guy, and claim his place as the next in line for the title.
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- Joshua Van’s Meteoric Rise Faces Biggest Test Yet at UFC 317
And let’s not forget—this is a 23-year-old who’s been building momentum, slowly but surely, since joining the UFC. He’s not just in this for a payday. He called out Brandon Moreno earlier this month, eager to test himself against the best. Now, with Moreno off the table and Royval left without an opponent, Van is that guy—the one willing to risk it all when no one else will.
What’s so compelling about this matchup is the style clash—or maybe the style mirror. Both Van and Royval are pressure fighters. They come forward. They break opponents. Van says it best: this fight won’t be about strength—it’ll be about smarts. Who can outwit the other inside that cage? That’s the question UFC 317 might answer.
And let’s not ignore the stakes. While Pantoja defends his title against Kai Kara-France later that same night, Van knows a win over Royval could leapfrog him straight into the title picture. He even compares it to UFC 276, when Alex Pereira made a thunderous statement by knocking out Sean Strickland and securing a shot at Israel Adesanya later that year. Van wants that same storyline—to fight on the same night as the champ, win impressively, and write his own destiny.
He’s also giving credit where it’s due. Royval didn’t have to take this fight either. He could have waited, protected his ranking. But he accepted. And in Van’s eyes, that makes him a dog—a warrior—just like himself.
Whether or not Joshua Van pulls off the upset, one thing’s clear: this is how stars are born in the UFC. No fear. No excuses. Just readiness. And if Van pulls off the win at UFC 317, he’s not just asking for a title shot—he’ll have earned it the hard way. Because in his own words: “When I beat the No. 1 guy, I’ll be the No. 1 guy.”
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