‘He did nothing’: Pros blast Joshua Van’s title celebration at UFC 323 after gruesome injury
Joshua Van completed a meteoric rise to the top at UFC 323, but his big win will be scrutinized for some time.
Heading into UFC 323, Van was one of the hottest fighters in the flyweight division, having gone 8-1 in the UFC at just 24 years old after turning pro in 2021. He faced dominant champion Alexandre Pantoja in Saturday’s co-main event and pulled off a massive upset, but the bout lasted just 26 seconds due to Pantoja suffering a brutal arm injury.
Pantoja threw a head kick that Van caught, followed by Van tripping him to the canvas. The champion attempted to post on his arm and the limb immediately gave out, a gruesome scene that was replayed countless times on the broadcast.
The injury marred a wonderful moment for Van, who has risen from prospect to UFC titleholder in the blink of an eye, and not everyone was happy for him.
Bantamweight contender Vinicius Oliveira took a vicious dig at Van, writing on Twitter that Van “doesn’t deserve to celebrate this belt, he did nothing, he is not worthy of having his belt.”
Dominick Cruz offered a confusing take, suggesting Pantoja should have been given the choice to continue, despite clearly injuring his arm.
See more pros reactions below.
