Twenty-year-old Joshua “The Fearless” Van was born in Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia. In 2013, he moved to Houston, Texas, at 11 years old.
Van often got into fights at school and in the streets. Eventually, he found his way into a gym and met coach Scott Juarez at Precision. That is where he began his MMA career, and he has not looked back since.
Van currently splits his training between coach Renzo, Aztlan Boxing Gym, Temple Construction and Active Jiu-Jitsu.
A Fast Start in MMA
Joshua Van made his amateur MMA debut in December 2020. He went 4-0 and won the Fury FC Amateur Series flyweight championship in his final amateur bout.
He turned up the heat after going pro in June 2021.
Van does not have experience in any other combat sport. Everything he has displayed so far appears to come naturally to him.
It is surprising that Van has not had extensive Muay Thai training or competition experience because he is so effective in that area. Whether working from the Muay Thai clinch or fighting in the pocket, Van is dangerous on offense.
He attacks the body relentlessly, with knees and hooks serving as his main weapons at close range. He also does a great job of throwing a head kick as he creates distance.
The Biggest Question in Van’s Game
Van’s biggest weakness is his takedown defense. He has been taken down in nearly every fight, although he usually manages to return to his feet.
His only loss came when he could not stay upright and eventually got caught in a rear-naked choke. Van was outstriking his opponent, but the other fighter was stronger and had a slight advantage on the ground.
Still, Van moves well off his back and does not simply accept a bad position.
Although he would much rather strike, Van can wrestle and grapple when needed. He recently showed that ability by securing a rare calf-slicer submission. His grappling may not be at an elite level yet, but the right mindset is certainly there.
Pressure, Power and Fluidity
On the feet, Van combines power, aggression, grit and fluidity. He throws heavy punches, kicks to the body and legs, and knees. He also adds some flash with spinning kicks to the body and head.
However, he does not overdo it. Everything Van throws appears to have a purpose.
One of his best skills is cutting off the cage and staying in his opponent’s face. He is aggressive without becoming reckless. Even when applying pressure, he remains patient enough to pick his shots.
Van is also a volume striker when he lets his offense go. He flows smoothly between punches and kicks, which makes his pressure difficult to manage.
A Flyweight Prospect to Watch
Van is still extremely young, so it will take years to learn how high his ceiling truly is. Fury FC should keep him active in Texas and gradually give him tougher tests.
Right now, Van is facing lower-level flyweight competition, but that is perfectly reasonable at this stage of his career.
His skill set is exciting, especially for a 20-year-old competing at 125 pounds. Joshua Van is undoubtedly a prospect to watch every time he steps into the cage.
