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Joshua Van has advice for Alexandre Pantoja if they rematch
TL;DR
Joshua Van offers health advice to Alexandre Pantoja ahead of a potential rematch. Van recently defended his title with a knockout victory at UFC 328, while Pantoja is recovering from an injury sustained in their last fight.
Key points
- Joshua Van defeated Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328
- Van's victory was a fifth-round knockout
- Pantoja suffered an injury in their last fight
- Van suggests calcium for Pantoja's recovery
- Pantoja may receive an instant title shot upon return
Joshua VanAlexandre PantojaTatsuro TairaUFC 328
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 09: Joshua Van speaks with media after the UFC 328 event at Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Zuffa LLC)
Joshua Van still wants to face Alexandre Pantoja again and he has some health tips for the former champion.
Saturday’s UFC 328 co-main event saw Van prove that he’s deserving of his elite status as he outlasted fellow Gen Z standout Tatsuro Taira en route to scoring a fifth-round knockout win. It was Van’s first title defense since winning the belt at UFC 323 in December, when his bout with longstanding champion Alexandre Pantoja ended in just 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury defending against a Taira throw.
Presumably, Pantoja will be granted an instant title shot when he returns, though his recovery timetable remains unclear. Should the rematch be made, Van hopes Pantoja gets plenty of calcium to strengthen thos ebones.
“Yes, you better go get some milk, man,” Van said at the UFC 328 post-fight press conference.
While it might not change perception of how Van stacks up against Pantoja, the 24-year-old champion received some validation with his win over Taira. The match was billed as a battle of young stars being put under the championship spotlight and it didn’t disappoint as both fighters had their moments, with Van’s striking winning out in the end.
Van didn’t get the chance to show off his skills against Pantoja and while he still feels bad for how their fight went down, he also doesn’t appreciate Pantoja downplaying how Van beat him.
“I felt bad,” Van said. “I told [Pantoja at UFC 323], like, I walked up to him because when I was celebrating I didn’t know his arm was like that. After I saw his arm on the screen, I walked up to him, I say, ‘Sorry.’ He says, ‘Sorry,’ this and that, the next thing you know he waited three months and then he came and do little interviews. His ‘pinoche’ hurt, so he’s saying a lot of shit now, so I don’t know what’s up with him.
Q&A
What health tips did Joshua Van give to Alexandre Pantoja for their rematch?
Joshua Van advised Alexandre Pantoja to consume plenty of calcium to strengthen his bones in preparation for a potential rematch.
When did Joshua Van last fight and who did he defeat?
Joshua Van last fought on May 9, 2026, at UFC 328, where he defeated Tatsuro Taira by knockout in the fifth round.
What happened in the previous fight between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja?
In their previous fight at UFC 323, Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury just 26 seconds into the match, leading to Van's victory.