Joshua Van gets golden opportunity at UFC 317 against Brandon Royval

Joshua Van Bawi Thawng — a flyweight fighter from Myanmar — receives a golden opportunity as a replacement on the UFC 317 main card to face Brandon Royval, the division’s number one contender.

The Hakha-born fighter only joined UFC about two years ago but has shown impressive progress — recording 7 wins and 1 loss across eight fights.

Comparison with Jeka Saragih — Indonesia’s first UFC fighter who debuted four months earlier — shows significant difference in activity, as Saragih has only fought three times since his debut.

Van must prepare on short notice for this fight — just three weeks after his appearance at UFC 316 in early June. Victory over Royval could potentially open his path toward a title shot.