The champion Joshua Van is a great talent and has done everything right throughout his young MMA career. He now gets a chance to retire the talks from his controversial win last year against then-champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Van and Pantoja’s first match was one of the most compelling and interesting fights we were getting at flyweight for Pantoja, and the way it ended was incredibly unfortunate. A lot of Van’s fans say he intended for that injury to happen or that he caused it. That arm break on Pantoja is so fluky, and honestly it’s something you learn in the very first week of a grappling or jiu-jitsu class: you never plant with your hand, because of exactly what happened to Pantoja. The fight ended in less than 30 seconds, so it never had a chance to get started and play out.
Joshua Van has fought once since their meeting, in a potential Fight of the Year against Tatsuro Taira. After defending some takedowns, he went on to a TKO finish. Van was able to dig deep and finish strong.
Van is the favorite now in the rematch, and if you’re backing him, I can understand that. He is the younger fighter, he is surging, and he has great finishing ability on the feet if he can keep it there. He does not have much one-punch KO power, but he overwhelms guys with volume, pressure, and a wide variety of combinations that mix it up to the body. He basically breaks guys down until they give up or the referee has to step in to save them.
I still think Pantoja is the best flyweight there is, with the best grappling in that division. I like him at an underdog price. He can stand with Van (though that is not his best path to winning), or he can work takedowns, top control, and back takes with a body triangle and submission attempts.
This is a very close fight no matter who you pick. You can make an argument for either guy. I just like the price on Pantoja and his pathways to victory.
Bet: Alexandre Pantoja (+118)
Thanks for reading, and best of luck!
