Joshua Van’s remarkable path from refugee to UFC – Sports News
UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van has dominated the division in recent times, changing into the primary fighter to defeat former dominant champion Alexandre Pantoja in 5 years. His rise to the highest has been nothing short of remarkable.
Van has secured 10 victories with the promotion in beneath three years, along with his sole defeat coming through a shocking knockout to Charles Johnson. Since then, he has established himself because the UFC’s premier fighter within the weight class and is scheduled to defend his title in opposition to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 on Saturday on the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
A victory over Taira may cement Van’s standing as one of the UFC’s all-time greats, although many are solely now discovering his extraordinary backstory.
At 24 years previous, Van is the UFC’s second-youngest champion in historical past behind Jon Jones. He was born in Hakha, the capital of Chin State in Myanmar.
Van’s adolescence was marked by hardship and instability amid battle within the area. During his early life, northern Myanmar skilled a number of main offensives involving numerous navy factions in what resembled a civil warfare.
Before turning 9, Van’s mother and father made the troublesome choice to depart the nation, first escaping to Malaysia earlier than finally settling in Houston. Although raised primarily in Texas, Van takes delight in representing Myanmar, although he’s at present prohibited from carrying the flag due to it not being categorized as a ‘acknowledged nation.’
Addressing the matter final yr, Van defined: “It’s not the UFC. They have some member who has to approve it. I forgot what the name is, but they have to approve that Myanmar is a country. Myanmar is a country.”
Myanmar, previously often called Burma, gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948.
The nation has skilled ongoing turmoil for the reason that Eighties, with extra upheaval occurring in 2021. Van stays optimistic about ultimately being permitted to show the flag within the UFC, saying: “I really want to carry my flag inside the octagon, so we’re just waiting for them to confirm it.
“We’ve been doing that, we have been making an attempt to get my flag ever since I acquired to the UFC,” Van added. “So hopefully by my subsequent struggle, I get to carry my own flag.”
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