Dana White Calls Joshua Van the Greatest Thing Ever for Flyweight

Dana White is all in on Joshua Van. The UFC president showered the flyweight champion with praise following his successful title defense against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331, calling Van "the greatest thing ever for that division."

White highlighted Van's rapid improvement as the quality that separates him from past flyweight champions. "The kid looks incredible. He looks better every time he fights and that's what it takes to be a long-reigning champion," White told media after the event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, per Yahoo Sports.

The praise is significant given the flyweight division's history. White nearly shuttered the 125-pound class entirely a few years ago, viewing it as commercially unviable. Van's combination of finishing ability and fan-friendly style has reversed that calculus entirely.

White specifically pointed to Van's defensive wrestling as a standout area of growth, noting his takedown defense and ability to escape from mounted positions against a fighter as dangerous on the ground as Pantoja. "This is probably the greatest grudge match in the history of the UFC," White said of the rivalry, praising both fighters for delivering on the buildup.

The 24-year-old Van has now defended his title in back-to-back fights against Pantoja, sweeping both contests. No timeline has been announced for his next defense, though the win over Pantoja with a torn shoulder, which Van revealed after the fight, only adds to the narrative White is building around his newest star.