Joshua Van Biography: Age, Net Worth, Parents, Height, Career, UFC, Wikipedia

Joshua Van Bawi Thawng, known professionally as Joshua Van or “The Fearless,” is a Burmese-American mixed martial artist competing in the UFC flyweight division, where he holds the #1 ranking as of July 1, 2025.

As the first Burmese-born fighter to sign with the UFC, he has made history with his aggressive striking and relentless pace, earning a professional record of 15-2 and a shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship.

Profile

• Full Name: Joshua Van Bawi Thawng
• Stage Name: Joshua Van, The Fearless
• Born: 10, October 2001
• Age: 23 years old
• Birthplace: Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar
• Nationality: Burmese, American
• Occupation: Professional Mixed Martial Artist
• Height: 1.65 m
• Parents: Mr. Thawng and Mrs. Thawng
• Siblings: 4
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Not married
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life and Education

Joshua Van Bawi Thawng was born on October 10, 2001, in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar, to parents referred to as Mr. Thawng and Mrs. Thawng, with no public details about their names or professions. He grew up with four siblings in a region marked by military and political conflict under the SPDC junta.

At age 10, his family fled to Malaysia for better opportunities, and in 2013, at 12, they relocated to Houston, Texas. As a small, non-English-speaking pre-teen, he faced bullying, which sparked his interest in fighting.

Information about his formal education is unavailable, but he began MMA training at 19. He is of Chin ethnicity, a minority group in Myanmar, and his religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.

Career

Joshua Van began his martial arts journey at 19, driven by a competitive spirit and his experiences fighting off bullies in Houston. He debuted professionally in October 2021 with Fury Fighting Championship, compiling a 7-1 record and winning the promotion’s flyweight title with a second-round submission over Cleveland McLean at Fury FC 72 on December 18, 2022.

His aggressive striking and high-volume approach caught the UFC’s attention, leading to a debut opportunity on June 24, 2023, at UFC on ABC 5 against Zhalgas Zhumagulov, where he secured a split decision victory despite a week’s notice. This marked him as the first Burmese fighter in UFC history.

Van’s UFC career surged with unanimous decision wins over Kevin Borjas (UFC 295, November 2023), Felipe Bunes (UFC Fight Night 234, January 2024), Edgar Chairez (UFC 306, September 2024), Cody Durden (UFC 310, December 2024), Rei Tsuruya (UFC 313, March 2025), and Bruno Silva (UFC 316, June 2025). His sole UFC loss came via third-round knockout to Charles Johnson at UFC Fight Night 240 in July 2024.

His landmark unanimous decision victory over top-ranked Brandon Royval at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, set a UFC record for both fighters landing over 200 significant strikes, earning Fight of the Night and securing Van a flyweight title shot against champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Joshua Van remains a rising star in the UFC flyweight division, training at 4oz Fight Club in Houston, Texas, with a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His fight against Pantoja, anticipated in late 2025, could make him the first Burmese UFC champion.

Van’s ability to carry the Myanmar flag into the octagon, permitted since March 2024, symbolizes his pride in representing his homeland, raising awareness about Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. His record of 15 wins (7 knockouts, 2 submissions, 6 decisions) and 2 losses, combined with his relentless style, positions him as a future cornerstone of the division.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @thefearlessmma1
• Facebook Handle: Joshua Van
• Twitter Handle: @JoshuaVanBT

Personal Life

Joshua Van is currently single and has no publicly known romantic relationships or children, dedicating his time and energy primarily to advancing his career in mixed martial arts. Residing in Houston, Texas, he embodies a unique blend of cultural heritage as a Burmese-American, and his fluency in both Burmese and English highlights this dual identity.

His focus remains steadfast on his professional development and athletic pursuits, making personal relationships less of a priority as he strives for success in the competitive world of MMA.

Net Worth

Joshua Van has an estimated net worth of $1 million. His primary income comes from UFC fight purses, including a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus for his UFC 317 bout against Brandon Royval. Additional earnings stem from sponsorships and his growing social media presence, with over 100,000 Instagram followers.