Joshua Van Fought Through Torn Shoulder at UFC 331 and Addressed Joe Rogan Criticism
The short version
- Joshua Van says he tore the AC joint in his right shoulder at the start of camp and could not spar, box, or wrestle for about three weeks.
- Van beat Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision at UFC 331 in Los Angeles; he does not expect surgery and never considered withdrawing.
- Van said Joe Rogan's comment calling his first Pantoja win an accident bothered him, but he does not want an apology.
- Manel Kape is the likely next challenger; Van expects that matchup to happen.
- Van said his focus is building interest in the flyweight division, not surpassing Demetrious Johnson's 11-defense record.
The flyweight champion said a pre-camp shoulder injury limited his training for weeks before his unanimous-decision win over Alexandre Pantoja.
Joshua Van clarified the stakes behind his UFC 331 victory, telling The Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday that he tore the AC joint in his right shoulder at the start of training camp. According to the 24-year-old, the injury happened during a wrestling session after he returned home to Houston from the August pre-fight press conference in Philadelphia, and he recognized right away that something was wrong.
Van said the injury kept him from boxing, wrestling, or sparring for roughly three weeks, leaving running as his only real option while UFC doctors helped him manage the issue. He never gave withdrawal from the rematch any serious thought, partly because Alexandre Pantoja had suggested he was avoiding the bout, and he does not expect to need surgery. The champion went on to win a unanimous decision over Pantoja in Los Angeles, a result that removed any doubt hanging over his initial title win, which came when Pantoja suffered an elbow injury 26 seconds into their first meeting.
Van also addressed UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who described the first victory as an accident during the UFC 331 weigh-ins. The champion admitted the remark stung because he grew up admiring Rogan, though he added that no apology was necessary and that he simply wanted to speak his mind.
Looking ahead, Manel Kape appears to be the leading candidate for the next title shot. Kape, a former RIZIN bantamweight champion riding a four-fight win streak since a July 2024 loss to Muhammad Mokaev, wrote on social media that people would be surprised how easily he handles the fight. Van said he expects Kape to be next and will wait on further shoulder testing before setting a return date, adding that his larger goal is raising the profile of the flyweight division rather than chasing Demetrious Johnson's record of 11 consecutive title defenses.
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Written by the Matchday Live desk from reporting by Yahoo Sports.
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