UFC cutman Brad Tate has recounted a memorable first encounter with Joshua Van, the current UFC flyweight champion, detailing how he had to encourage a terrified Van before his promotional debut.
Van recently solidified his championship status with a fifth-round TKO win over Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328, marking the first defense of his title. He is widely expected to face Alexandre Pantoja in his next outing.
In a recent interview with Engage, Tate revealed that he met Van in an elevator shortly before the fighter’s inaugural UFC bout in 2023, against Zhalgas Zhumagulov, which Van ultimately won by split decision.
According to Tate, Van, known now as “The Fearless,” was far from composed before stepping into the octagon for the first time. He was experiencing significant stress and required encouragement from those around him to overcome his doubts.
“So I met this guy in the elevator,” Tate shared. “Short-notice fight. He was nervous as hell. He kept saying, ‘Man, I don’t know if I belong here.’ We had to talk to him and hype him up. Then he shows up at the arena for the first fight of the night. Nobody was even there yet. The dude was nervous as hell. I told him, ‘Bro, calm down. You got this. Flip that switch, you know?’ ‘I don’t believe I should be here.’ His hands were literally shaking, and he was sweating like crazy. Then they go out there for the first fight, and the dude he was facing wasn’t feeling well.”
The anecdote highlights the mental fortitude Van has developed since his early days in the UFC, transforming from a fighter battling self-doubt to a confident champion.