Joshua Van, the current UFC flyweight champion, made a surprising revelation about his knowledge of MMA legends. In a recent podcast, Van admitted that he was unaware of Demetrious Johnson's illustrious UFC career until recently, despite Johnson's remarkable achievements in the octagon.
But here's the twist: Van, at 24, only started following UFC fights after 2017, which explains his unfamiliarity with Johnson's dominance. This is despite Johnson being a record-breaking 11-time UFC flyweight title defender from 2013 to 2017. When Johnson was in his prime, Van was just 16 years old, a teenager with a budding interest in the sport.
'I didn't know he was in the UFC,' Van confessed about Johnson on the JAXXON Podcast, recalling his first encounter with Johnson's highlight reel in ONE Championship. 'I saw him fight in ONE, and his flying knee knockout of Adriano Moraes was everywhere. I didn't realize he had such a legendary UFC career.'
This statement might spark debate among MMA fans, as Johnson is often hailed as the greatest 125-pound fighter ever. His impact on the flyweight division is undeniable, but Van, who defeated Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC title, has a different perspective. He considers Pantoja the flyweight GOAT, a title many would argue belongs to Johnson.
Van's rise to the top was swift and unexpected. He claimed the UFC flyweight title in December at UFC 323, stopping Pantoja due to injury. Now, he prepares for his first title defense against the formidable Tatsuro Taira at UFC 327 in April.
This story raises an intriguing question: How do we define a fighter's legacy? Is it solely based on their achievements, or does it also depend on the impact they have on their peers and fans? Van's perspective challenges the conventional wisdom, leaving us with a fascinating debate on the nature of greatness in MMA.
