Joshua Van isn’t letting his potential Battle of the Yr efficiency towards Brandon Royval inflate his ego any greater than he permits different folks’s opinions have an effect on his preparation for an eventual showdown with UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
It was nearly precisely one month in the past when Van scored a knockout of Bruno Silva at UFC 316 that was alleged to push him greater within the rankings with the potential to lure a prime 10 opponent right into a struggle with him. Not even 24 hours faraway from that win, Van accepted a chance to face Royval at UFC 317 three weeks later with the prospect to win and instantly put himself in place to battle for a championship.
Van heard all of the feedback that he would make it an thrilling struggle however most likely couldn’t cling with Royval, particularly on such brief discover. He absorbed all of it after which beat Royval in a wild three-round warfare, but it surely didn’t take lengthy for him to start out listening to the brand new narrative that he’s getting a title shot with little probability to beat a four-time defending champion like Pantoja.
“You know the way the followers are like ‘Joshua Van isn’t prepared’ — I see all of the feedback and shit like that,” Van instructed MMA Preventing. “We win the struggle. Now persons are saying I’m not prepared for the title struggle and this and that.
“What are they going to say after we win that belt? We’re simply making an attempt to remain in our lane and grind. Like we did each f*cking day.”
Van isn’t saying he’s going to only run roughshod over any person like Pantoja, however he’d even be loopy to search out himself on this place with out the arrogance that he can grow to be UFC champion.
He is aware of he has the power to beat anyone within the flyweight division and that features Pantoja.
“He’s beating all the blokes however types make fights,” Van stated about Pantoja. “Like I stated, everyone that Brandon Royval fought, he beat, aside from the champion and I beat him. It’s simply an opinion.
“On the finish of the day, I could possibly be the best factor that ever occurred on this world however folks will nonetheless discover a method to put me down. I don’t [pay] thoughts to that shit.”
Maybe the most important query Van faces within the weeks and months resulting in his eventual struggle towards Pantoja is his capability to take care of the Brazilian’s grappling-heavy model.
In 30 profession wins, Pantoja has completed 12 of these by submission together with his victory over Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. With a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and stable wrestling at his disposal, Pantoja has the abilities to take anyone down and put them away with a submission.
As for Van, he maintains 81 % takedown protection within the UFC and he’s solely been submitted as soon as in his profession and that got here throughout his third skilled struggle. Van guarantees he’s able to take care of no matter Pantoja throws at him, however he’s not going to run scared from the grappling exchanges simply because that’s the place the champion considers himself the very best.
“I’m all the time assured. I simply don’t like hugging one other man in a struggle,” Van stated. “That’s the rationale why ya’ll don’t see my floor sport. However on the subject of a few fights the place I received damage, I take folks down. I’ve received it in my again pocket. When it’s time to make use of it, I exploit it.
“Who do you see within the UFC that may maintain me down? All my earlier fights, they took me down however what occurred? It’s simply an opinion on the finish of the day. I do know they’re going to ask me similar the query over and over and over. Like what do you suppose? Are you able to defend his takedowns? Yeah, if I didn’t suppose I might defend it, do you suppose I’d be prepared to struggle him? Issues like that. After all, me and my group we imagine in ourselves. We imagine in our work and I imagine my coaches will discover a means for me to beat the champ.”
Believing in himself is precisely what led Van to just accept the short-notice struggle towards Royval after which beat him just some weeks later. He carries that very same angle into the struggle towards Pantoja and as a lot as he respects the UFC flyweight champion, he can’t worry him or that would result in his downfall.
Van believes that’s what he witnessed in Pantoja’s newest title protection.
“Shout out to each him and Kai however I really feel like Kai confirmed an excessive amount of respect,” Van stated. “I don’t know if he was damage going into that struggle or one thing however I don’t suppose Kai fought the best way that he fought earlier than. Who is aware of. Not everyone is 100 [percent] on that struggle day. I don’t know what occurred to him however I don’t suppose he fought his struggle and he simply made it simple for Pantoja.”
Whereas he hasn’t obtained an official name from the UFC giving him a date or location for the title bout, Van is already getting ready for Pantoja in his thoughts whereas permitting his physique to relaxation up and heal following fast back-to-back bookings.
As soon as coaching camp begins, Van plans to prepare for his title shot like he’s completed each different struggle he’s had within the UFC, so don’t anticipate him to cower to anyone’s finest weapons and that features coping with Pantoja’s floor sport.
“They’ll all the time discover a method to say you’re not prepared,” Van stated. “Simply think about how the f*ck am I within the UFC combating and never figuring out no floor? Are you able to even think about that shit? Like I’ve received to know just a little bit. I believe I’ll be prepared come struggle day.”
