An ecstatic Joshua Van scaled the Octagon wall in a mad scramble. Although an athlete with impeccable control over his body, here he was a young man incapable of suppressing the grin that was stretching his fresh face. At only 24 years old, he had just become the youngest active champion in the UFC – the second-youngest in history, in fact, a matter of months behind the ‘great’ Jon Jones. Furthermore, he had accomplished this feat by dethroning Alexandre Pantoja, one of the most-dominant title holders in recent memory. And in barely 30 seconds, no less!
So, why did the MMA fanbase take such issue with his jubilation, his exuberance in this life-changing moment? It was because Van hadn't actually beaten Pantoja, people said. Just 26 seconds into their showdown in Las Vegas, in the co-main event of UFC 323, flyweight king Pantoja had suffered a ‘freak’ injury, leaving him clutching his arm while laying on the canvas and wagging his finger at Van – standing above the Brazilian – as referee Herb Dean waved off the fight.
