Joshua Van Reveals Shoulder Injury Suffered Ahead of UFC 331 Title Defense

Joshua Van overcame significant adversity before stepping into the Octagon for his first title defense at UFC 331 in Los Angeles. Speaking at the post-fight press conference following his five-round battle against Alexandre Pantoja, the flyweight champion revealed that he suffered a torn AC joint in his right shoulder a little over a month before the bout, following a press conference in Philadelphia.

The injury heavily disrupted Van's preparation, limiting his training camp largely to conditioning work until the final stretch. "So the last two weeks was my first time sparring and this camp we do nothing but cardio, just running and stuff like that," Van said. He noted that he plans to get MRIs and undergo medical checkups to ensure there is no lasting damage, leaving his timetable for a return and his next opponent unconfirmed. When asked about a potential matchup against Manel Kape, the champion stated he is open to whatever the matchmakers offer.

Van also drew inspiration from teammate Michael Aswell, who battled through a rib injury to secure a decision victory over Joo Sang Yoo earlier that night. Van explained that seeing Aswell push through his own physical setbacks motivated him to stay in the fight rather than withdraw. Reflecting on the hard-fought rematch against Pantoja—whom he originally defeated after an early injury ended their first encounter—the 24-year-old expressed gratitude for sharing the cage with the former titleholder, calling Pantoja one of the greatest fighters of all time.