Joshua Van isn’t within the enterprise of claiming no.
Barely 24 hours faraway from a formidable stoppage win over Bruno Silva at UFC 316, the 23-year-old flyweight bought a name from his supervisor that he undoubtedly wasn’t anticipating. Manel Kape suffered an harm and Brandon Royval wanted a brand new opponent for UFC 317 — and he requested if Van was concerned about accepting the chance.
“I bought the decision on Sunday [after fighting on Saturday],” Van informed MMA Preventing. “I feel he bought the identical name Sunday when his combat fell off. As a result of after they referred to as me, I form of don’t consider it. Manel was there. So when he launched that little video, that’s once I was like OK, I’m actually combating him. Each of us know the combat was on Sunday.”
“The supervisor referred to as and the supervisor was like ‘do you need to combat Royval?’ and go from there. I imply, the reply is all the time going to be sure with me after they supply me a combat. This combat, I bought all the things to achieve and never loads to lose. It is a good alternative God gave me so I can’t say no. When the decision got here, I used to be like hell yeah, I need to combat him, particularly when he’s on the high, No. 1. This all the things I needed.”
In an ideal world, Van would have a full coaching camp and extra time to organize for anyone like Royval, who’s at present ranked by the UFC because the No. 1 contender within the division after beforehand battling champion Alexandre Pantoja for the title.
However Van has been begging for the prospect to tackle larger ranked competitors, which is why he initially referred to as out former champion Brandon Moreno following his win in early June.
“I simply can’t say no,” Van stated. “It’s an honorable combat so I’ve to take it.
“There’s a cause why I referred to as out [Brandon] Moreno, too, is as a result of all the highest 15 guys are matched up. It was simply me and him left. That was the explanation why I referred to as him out. When Manel is out, I used to be the one choice. As a result of I do know for a reality Moreno ain’t going to step in on three weeks’ discover. He wants a combat camp. For him to take that threat is simply silly. I’m simply the one man that may step in.”
Van admits he doesn’t watch lots of MMA in his spare time so he wasn’t really that conversant in Royval’s physique of labor however he instantly began finding out him after getting the nod from the UFC that he was booked for the combat.
Stylistically, Van expects Royval to method him with an analogous mindset and that would make for an explosive matchup at UFC 317.
“Not too acquainted. I don’t actually watch fights like that [but] he’s the No. 1 for a cause,” Van stated.
“He’s bought the identical fashion I’ve. Put the stress on guys till they break. I feel is simply going to be like who outsmarts who. It’s not going to be the strongest however the smartest fighter will win the combat. I’ve simply bought to outsmart him on all the things.”
Whereas he accepted the combat whatever the circumstances, Van is aware of simply how a lot he has to achieve with a win over anyone like Royval on Saturday.
With reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja dealing with Kai Kara-France on the identical card after already vanquishing many of the high contenders within the division, Van expects he’ll soar the road for a title shot if he will get previous Royval.
“After I beat the No. 1 man, I’ll be the No. 1 man,” Van stated. “After this combat, I’m going to must combat for the belt. That’s the one factor left. What else am I alleged to do? I beat Royval, ought to I am going again and combat [someone else]?
“Thanks to Royval for giving me this chance. He might say no I’ll wait. However he’s a canine. He gave me this chance so shout out to that man.”
Preventing on simply three weeks’ discover could be the largest draw back to this combat however Van acknowledges that the rewards far outweigh the dangers.
If he’s capable of go on the market and beat Royval at UFC 317 with the flyweight title going up for grabs simply two fights afterward the primary card, Van is reminded of an analogous state of affairs that unfolded within the middleweight division again in 2022.
“That’s what’s going to make a greater storyline of who’s going to combat for the belt,” Van defined. “We’re on the identical card. Sort of like [Israel] Adesanya and Alex Pereira. It’s going to be like that. Image good.”
At UFC 276, Israel Adesanya defeated Jared Cannonier in the primary occasion however previous to his look, Alex Pereira scored a brutal knockout over Sean Strickland that cemented his standing because the No. 1 contender within the division.
Van would love nothing greater than to search out himself in an analogous place after Saturday night time is wrapped.
He additionally credit the UFC for considering of him for this type of a possibility as Van approaches his ninth look within the promotion in solely two years’ time.
“I really feel just like the UFC has completed job of giving me the matchups that they gave me,” Van stated. “I really feel like they constructed me up from the bottom up. As a result of keep in mind once I misplaced my combat, had I gained that combat, I’m going to start out combating the highest guys fast. I may not be prepared for them guys however now I really feel like that loss pulled me again and I bought two extra fights on ranked guys. I bought to combat two different ranked guys and I fought Cody [Durden].
“I really feel just like the matchups have ready me for any such combat. So shout out to Mick [Maynard] and shout out to the UFC for giving me proper matchups and constructing me the best method.”
