9 July 2026 – Chin mixed martial artist and UFC Flyweight champion Joshua Van won “Breakthrough Fighter of the Year” at the 17th World MMA Awards, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 8 July.
The annual awards, organized by Fighters Only magazine, are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the global MMA community and are often described as the sport’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Joshua Van received the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year award after being selected over fellow nominees Sean Brady, Jean Silva, Reinier de Ridder, and Dakota Ditcheva. He personally attended the ceremony to accept the award.
He also earned Fight of the Year honors for his UFC 317 bout against Brandon Royval, with the contest chosen over four other finalists.
Joshua Van was nominated in three major award categories at this year’s World MMA Awards. The Breakthrough Fighter of the Year title marks his first World MMA Award, adding to similar Breakout/Breakthrough Fighter of the Year honors he has previously received from ESPN, Sherdog, MMA Fighting, and the Score.
The 24-year-old Chin fighter has compiled an impressive professional record, winning 17 of his 19 career fights, including 10 victories in 11 UFC appearances. He recently captured the UFC Flyweight championship and has already made his first successful title defense, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s rising stars. – Reporting by Daniel
