Van Reflects On Johnson KO That Humbled Him

UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van still thinks about the night Charles Johnson stopped him in the third round more than two years ago.

Van, who defends his title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 on September 19 in Los Angeles, told Paramount+ that the July 2024 knockout altered how he trains. The 24-year-old has won seven straight since and captured the belt from Pantoja before defending it against Tatsuro Taira, but the Johnson setback remains the most recent blemish on his record.

How the Johnson Loss Changed Van's Work Ethic

"That loss kind of humbled me in a way," Van said, per Paramount+. "So, I never want to taste defeat again. So, my work ethic that I put in the gym is just different from that day on."

Van said he did not overhaul his fighting style after the defeat. Instead, he focused on fixing the camp mistakes that preceded the Johnson bout. "Going into that camp, there's a lot of things that I did that I shouldn't have done," he added. "Stuff like that, but there's no excuse... He beat me fair and square. And it humbled me to become a better fighter."

The flyweight champion faces Pantoja in a rematch at Crypto.com Arena, the same opponent he dethroned to win the title.

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• Sherdog — Joshua Van reflects on knockout loss that changed his life