"LAS VEGAS -- One of the best flyweight title reigns in UFC history came to an end Saturday night in unceremonious fashion. Joshua Van (16-2) became the second-youngest champion in UFC history, as he won the 125-pound championship with a TKO finish over Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) in the co-main event of UFC 323 inside T-Mobile Arena. The finish came just 26 seconds in, when Pantoja appeared to suffer a serious injury to his left arm as he tumbled to the canvas after Van caught a head-kick attempt. It marked Pantoja's first loss in more than five years."
""I didn't know what happened," Van said. "He just stopped. I was trying to ground and pound, but the ref said something was wrong. He's one of the greatest of all time and I didn't want the fight to go that way.""
"Pantoja, who defended the belt three times before Saturday, immediately left the Octagon to seek medical attention. The injury occurred after he threw a high right head kick that Van caught and then elevated into a takedown. Pantoja twisted mid-air and braced himself for the landing, at which point his lower arm bent awkwardly underneath him."
Joshua Van became the second-youngest UFC champion by defeating Alexandre Pantoja via TKO in 26 seconds at UFC 323 in Las Vegas. Pantoja appeared to suffer a serious left-arm injury after Van caught a head kick and elevated into a takedown, causing his lower arm to bend awkwardly as he landed. The loss ended Pantoja's unbeaten run of more than five years and came after three title defenses. Van finished 2025 with a 4-0 record and rebounded from a knockout loss in June 2024 to transform from prospect to champion.
Read at ESPN.com
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