UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van has revealed the injury he sustained prior to his win at UFC 331 over Alexandre Pantoja.
After Alexandre Pantoja suffered an injury in his first fight against Joshua Van, a lot of people called Van a fluke champion. After last night, though, you won’t meet many critics of the champ anymore after he was able to pick up a solid, comprehensive win over the veteran.
RELATED: Pros react to Joshua Van defeating Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331: “Horrible judging”
Joshua Van has been waiting for this moment for quite some time now, and even at his young age, he is still impressing everyone with his ability to overcome some of the very best available at 125 pounds.
In an interview after the fight, Joshua Van revealed that he was actually having a few issues heading into fight night.
Joshua Van makes a statement
“Coming into this fight after the press conference in Philly (on Aug. 14), I tore my AC joint in my right shoulder, and I couldn’t even spar,” Van told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 331 post-event news conference. “So the last two weeks was my first time sparring, and this camp we did nothing but cardio. Just running and stuff like that. I’ve got to go back there and get MRIs and get checked up, so hopefully nothing major.”
“I knew I hurt him, but he’s a mental giant,” Van said. “He just don’t want to fall, and he don’t want to show that he’s hurt. But I know deep down that he was hurt. Like I said, that’s why I respect him so much.”
He added, “There was nothing to prove, man. The first fight I knew I was gonna win, too. So it’s just like, OK, you guys want to see me win again? It’s just that.”
Quotes via MMA Junkie
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