Joshua Van is a Burmese-American mixed martial artist who fights in the UFC’s flyweight division. Born in Myanmar and raised in Houston, Texas, he made history by becoming the UFC Flyweight Champion. Known as “The Fearless,” his rise from a refugee background to world champion has made him one of the sport’s most inspiring young stars.
Who is Joshua Van?
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joshua Van Bawi Thawng |
| Nickname | The Fearless |
| Profession | Professional Mixed Martial Artist (UFC) |
| Date of Birth | October 10, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Birthplace | Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar |
| Nationality | Burmese-American (dual citizenship) |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Ethnicity | Chin (ethnic minority from Myanmar) |
| Known For | Being the first Myanmar-born UFC fighter and UFC Flyweight Champion |
Joshua Van is a flyweight fighter who competes in the UFC. He was born on October 10, 2001, in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar.
He carries the nickname “The Fearless” and trains out of the 4oz. Fight Club in Houston. He is the first fighter from Myanmar to sign with the UFC.
Van reached the top of his division at a remarkably young age. At UFC 323, he became the UFC’s second Asian-born male champion and the first champion born in the 2000s.
What is Joshua Van Ethnicity?
Joshua Van belongs to the Chin people, an ethnic minority group from Myanmar. The Chin people are an ethnic minority group primarily located in the mountainous regions of Myanmar.
This community has faced a difficult history. They have historically faced significant persecution and hardship under various military governments.
The Chin community also has a strong religious identity. The Chin ethnic group, to which Joshua Van belongs, has a strong Christian presence, with around 85.5% of the population following the faith. Van himself is a practicing Christian and has spoken openly about his faith.
Family Roots of Joshua Van
Joshua Van comes from a large family shaped by hardship and survival. He was born in Hakha, in the Chin State of western Myanmar, to a family of five siblings.
His early years were marked by conflict in his home country. Due to a country ridden with military and political conflict, his family moved to Malaysia when he was ten.
The family spent difficult years as refugees. Without legal status, the family faced constant threats of deportation, limited access to healthcare and education, and meager job prospects.
Their move to America came a couple of years later. In 2013, at the age of twelve, Van migrated with his family to the United States, settling in Houston.
The city shaped who he became. As Van has said, his blood is from Myanmar, but Houston raised him.
What is Joshua Van’s Nationality and Where Does He Live?
Joshua Van holds two nationalities. His citizenship is listed as both Myanmar and the United States.
He was born in Myanmar but built his life in America after his family resettled there. After a few years in Malaysia, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Houston in 2013.
Today he is based in Houston, Texas, where he trains and lives. He fights out of Houston, Texas.
Van embraces both sides of his identity. He is fluent in Burmese and English, and he has managed to remain faithful to both aspects of his identity instead of sacrificing one for the other.
Family Background
Joshua Van grew up with several siblings in a close family. He grew up in Myanmar, but he, his parents and four sisters fled to a refugee camp in Malaysia when Van was 9 years old.
His childhood involved painful separation from part of his family. When Van was 9 years old, he was separated from his father and two of his sisters, as he waited to join them at a refugee camp his father found in Malaysia.
His father was often away searching for a way out for the family. His father was absent the majority of Van’s childhood, searching for opportunities to move his family out of Myanmar.
Sadly, his father has since passed away, and becoming a champion helped Van find peace with that relationship. His mother remains a central figure in his personal life. There is no public record of Van being married or having children.
Major Events in Joshua Van’s Life
Van’s journey from a refugee camp to a UFC title is filled with defining moments. He made his professional MMA debut in 2021.
He entered the UFC as a trailblazer for his country. Van began his professional MMA career in 2021 with Fury FC, where he achieved a record of 7-1 and became the promotion’s flyweight champion before entering the UFC.
His biggest night came at the end of 2025. At UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, Van defeated Alexandre Pantoja via TKO to win the UFC flyweight title.
He then proved the win was no fluke. At UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, Van stopped Tatsuro Taira via strikes in the fifth round to retain his UFC flyweight title.
His speed to the top set records. The Myanmar-born flyweight won the UFC title four years after debuting, becoming the second youngest UFC champion in history behind Jon Jones.
Lesser-Known Facts About Joshua Van
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Reach | 65 inches (165 cm) |
| Fighting Team | 4oz. Fight Club, Houston |
| BJJ Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Faith | Practicing Christian and preacher |
| Flag Tribute | Carried the Myanmar flag during 2025 walkouts |
| First Career | Started fighting after watching videos online |
There are several interesting details behind Van’s story. He got into martial arts in an unusual way. Van began training after watching street-fighting videos on YouTube, and he joined a gym in Houston.
Faith plays a huge role in his life. He has remained open about being a Christian, and even spoke about his role as a preacher during a podcast appearance. After his title win, he dedicated the victory to Jesus.
His early years in Houston were tough. He was teased because he struggled to speak and understand English when he first arrived, and he would constantly get into fights.
His parents even tried a change of scenery to help him. Van’s parents briefly sent him to Iowa to live with an aunt, a move that changed his life, since a friend there first suggested he try the UFC.
Joshua Van Social Media
Joshua Van keeps a presence on the major platforms, though he is more active on some than others. On Instagram, he uses the handle @thefearlessamma1. On his Instagram account, Van has amassed over 85,000 followers, though he has only posted a handful of times and does not seem overly active there.
He tends to engage more on X (formerly Twitter). He also has around 12,000 followers on X under the account JoshuaVanBT, where he posts regularly about himself and his career.
His following has been climbing quickly since his championship win, as fans from both Myanmar and Houston continue to rally behind him.
FAQs
1. What is Joshua Van’s ethnicity?
Joshua Van is of Chin ethnicity, a minority group from the mountainous Chin State in Myanmar.
2. How old is Joshua Van?
He is 24 years old, born on October 10, 2001, which makes his zodiac sign Libra.
3. What is Joshua Van’s nationality?
He holds dual citizenship, as both a Burmese and American citizen. He was born in Myanmar and lives in Houston, Texas.
4. Who are Joshua Van’s family?
He grew up with his parents and four sisters. His family fled Myanmar as refugees, and his father has since passed away.
5. What is Joshua Van known for?
He is the first Myanmar-born fighter in the UFC and the current UFC Flyweight Champion, known by the nickname “The Fearless.”