Minutes after his UFC 317 win over Kai Kara-France, Pantoja (30-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) was quite literally faced with his next opponent. Into the cage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas walked Joshua Van, who defeated Brandon Royval in a thrilling title eliminator just one fight prior.

At just 23 years old, Joshua Van has accomplished what most fighters spend a lifetime chasing. In a fight already being hailed by fans and UFC commentator Joe Rogan as a potential “fight of the year,” Van outlasted the seasoned Royval in a three-round war that showcased his volume,

It’s just not in Brandon Royval’s nature to back down from a challenge. Originally scheduled to face Manel Kape on the card, Royval took a big risk accepting the fight against a much lower ranked opponent like Van but he acknowledged that’s just how he’s built.