UFC 331 roundtable: Can Joshua Van become one of the faces of the UFC?

At UFC 331, Joshua Van headlines for the first time, and not only has the chance to answer the most important question of his career, but also possibly to become a foundational piece for the promotion over the next decade.

Van’s rise to the top has been like any other in MMA history. Just 24 years old, Van joined the UFC in 2023 with all the markings of a blue-chip prospect, but few could have predicted he would be champion in less than three years, much less win the title by defeating Alexandre Pantoja, one of the best flyweights of this generation. However, Van’s win came with a major asterisk, with Pantoja injuring his arm less than 30 seconds into their fight. Nine months later, with a successful defense under his belt, Van has the opportunity to score a second win over Pantoja and ideally will silence any doubters.