Jun 7, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Joshua Van (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Bruno Silva (not pictured) during UFC 316 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Joshua Van Set To Be The #1 Contender For Flyweight Gold, Pulls Off Massive Upset Against Brandon Royval At UFC 317!

Joshua Van and Brandon Royval engage in a war for three rounds as the younger fighter pulls off a massive upset!

The flyweight division has always been full of surprises, but nobody saw this coming. Just two years ago, Joshua Van was making his UFC debut against Zhalgas Zhumagaulov in what many considered a fairly routine introduction to the octagon. The 23-year-old managed to win that fight by split decision, but it wasn’t the kind of performance that had people buzzing about a future title contender. Fast forward to today at UFC 317, and Van has just delivered one of the most impressive performances that fans have seen in the 125-pound division this year.

His opponent at UFC 317 was no joke either. Brandon Royval has been knocking on the door of another title shot for months. The 32-year-old veteran had won five of his last six fights, with his only loss coming against current champion Alexandre Pantoja. Royval was ranked first in the division going into this fight, while Van was at 12. That kind of gap on paper made this fight look like a classic veteran versus prospect matchup, but Van had other plans entirely!

Joshua Van And Brandon Royval Go To War At UFC 317

From the opening bell, it was clear that both fighters came to put on a show. Royval pumped out his jab consistently and used kicks to control the distance. But Van showed incredible patience in those early moments, waiting for his openings rather than rushing into exchanges. When those openings came, he made them count with crisp one-two combinations that immediately got Royval’s attention. The counter-punching that Van displayed throughout the first round was absolutely beautiful to watch.

The second round turned into an absolute war that had the crowd on their feet. Both fighters decided to throw caution to the wind and engage in lengthy combinations that targeted both the head and body. Royval tried to use his clinch work to land knees, but Van’s boxing was just too sharp and consistent. The veteran kept walking forward and throwing punches despite eating some heavy shots. Van welcomed the firefight and proved he could hang in the pocket with one of the division’s most experienced fighters.

WHAT A FIGHT 😱

[ #UFC317 is LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV NOW ] pic.twitter.com/tKrUgcmfGV
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025

JOSH VAN IS THE MAN 🤩#UFC317 | @JoshuaVanBT pic.twitter.com/T0qu7cJfPh
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025

The final round was where Van truly announced himself as a legitimate contender. He came out hunting for a finish while Royval tried to use his experience to weather the storm. Van’s left hand was finding its mark repeatedly, and his combination punching was becoming more and more dangerous as the fight progressed. The defining moment came in the final seconds when Van dropped Royval with a massive punch that had the entire arena erupting. Royval showed his toughness by surviving until the final bell, but the damage was already done. When it was all said and done, Royval had connected with 184 strikes and Van had 160 significant strikes. The judges’ scorecards told the whole story – 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 all in favor of Joshua Van.

What This Win Means For Joshua Van’s Future

Van didn’t just beat a top contender; he dominated him in convincing fashion. Going from unranked to beating the number one contender in the division in a span of a few months is the kind of leap that creates immediate title conversations. Van wasted no time making his intentions clear after the fight, calling out whoever emerges victorious from the co-main event of UFC 317 between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Kara-France.

That callout makes perfect sense given Van’s new position in the division. Whether it’s Pantoja retaining his title or Kara-France capturing it for the first time, Van has certainly earned his spot as the next logical challenger. The flyweight division has been looking for fresh blood at the top for a while now, and Van’s performance against Royval proves he’s ready to provide exactly that kind of excitement the division needs!

(Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images)

Brandon Royval

Joshua Van

UFC 317

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!