Joshua Van Dominates Rei Tsuruya by Decision at UFC 313
Joshua Van turned a pre-fight matchup with undefeated Japanese prospect Rei Tsuruya into a clear decision win at UFC 313. Van earned a unanimous decision in their flyweight bout on March 8, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All three judges scored it 30-27 for Van, who controlled the fight with sharp boxing and strong takedown defense. The UFC’s official scorecards confirm the unanimous result.
Van kept Tsuruya from settling into his grappling
Tsuruya entered the contest with a 10-0 professional record and momentum from winning the Road to UFC tournament. He was expected to test Van with wrestling and grappling, but the American-based flyweight repeatedly defended takedown attempts and made Tsuruya work to create openings. When the fight stayed standing, Van used combinations and forward pressure to build his advantage.
The bout was competitive in stretches, yet Van was the more consistent fighter across all three rounds. He stuffed attempts to bring him down, returned to his feet when Tsuruya did find a takedown, and continued landing punches. The judges’ 30-27 cards reflected Van’s control of the exchanges and the limited time Tsuruya spent in dominant positions.
A setback for the Road to UFC winner
Tsuruya’s defeat was the first of his professional career and came in his UFC debut. The Japanese prospect had earned his contract by winning the Road to UFC Season 2 flyweight tournament, including a stoppage of Jiniushiyue in the final. He arrived at UFC 313 as an accomplished grappler, but Van’s defensive work prevented him from imposing that game for sustained stretches.
Van entered the bout after wins over Edgar Chairez and Cody Durden and moved to 13-2 with the victory. At 23, he was already an established name in the UFC flyweight division. The win extended his streak and showed another side of his game: he could maintain effective striking while managing a determined wrestler’s repeated attempts to close distance.
A notable result on UFC 313’s prelims
UFC 313 was headlined by Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight title defense against Magomed Ankalaev. Van and Tsuruya’s flyweight contest closed the preliminary card, giving the event a matchup between a rising UFC contender and a decorated tournament winner. The UFC’s prelim recap lists Van’s win among the official results and provides interviews from the event.
Their careers after UFC 313
Van’s win over Tsuruya became an early step toward a title run: he won the UFC flyweight championship in December 2025, defended it against Tatsuro Taira in May 2026, and retained it against Alexandre Pantoja in their September rematch. Van’s UFC profile tracks the championship results. Tsuruya responded to his first career loss with first-round submission wins over Luis Gurule in May and Kevin Borjas in August 2026, according to his UFC profile.
Van spoke after the fight about the adjustments he made against Tsuruya and his approach to competing in Las Vegas. The video below features his post-fight discussion of the performance. The result added an important win to Van’s rise at 125 pounds while giving Tsuruya a clear first UFC lesson against a fast, difficult opponent.
