For years, the mixed martial arts world has been mispronouncing the name of one of its youngest champions, and he never bothered to correct anyone.
Joshua Van, the UFC flyweight champion, revealed during an interview with Megan Olivi that his last name is actually pronounced “Vaughn,” not “Van” as commentators, fans, and media have said for years.
Olivi broached the subject before diving into the rest of the interview. “So Josh, before we even start this interview, I really need to ask you an important question. I have learned something from our producers that kind of shook me to my core. We call you Josh Van,” she said.
“Yes,” he responded.
“Your name file for the UFC, it’s you saying Joshua Van,” Olivi continued.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Joshua Van. But it’s Van [Vaughn],” Olivi asks.
“Yes,” Joshua confirms.
“So we should all be saying Joshua Vaugh is the champion of the UFC,” Olivi said.
“Yes. But I don’t mind Van, you know. I like it, but the real way is Van [Vaughn],” the champion explained.
Rather than push for a correction, the 23-year-old champion said he has grown comfortable with the version everyone already knows.
The mix-up has followed Van through a career that has moved faster than almost anyone else’s in the sport’s history. He is the second youngest champion in UFC history behind Jon Jones. Van picked up numerous wins in less than two years on the roster before claiming the flyweight title.
His path to the top of the sport started far from the octagon. Van’s family fled military oppression in Myanmar when he was a young child, then lived as refugees in Malaysia before eventually settling in Houston, Texas. The transition was rough, and Van found himself fig hting constantly in his new home, both in school and in his neighborhood.
“It got to the point where I fig ht almost every day. So my mom and my dad decided to move to a different area and that’s when it got worse,” he said.
That instinct for conflict eventually found a proper outlet in mixed martial arts, guided in large part by his faith.
“I know if I stay disciplined and if I stay in the gym and if I keep my faith straight, nobody will beat me,” Van said.
As for whether the correct pronunciation will stick going forward, Van made clear he is not fussed either way, content to answer to the name the sport already knows him by as he continues his climb toward becoming one of the greatest 125 lb (56.7 kg) combat athletes ever.
