Édgar Cháirez (11-5-0)
Édgar "Puro Chicali" Cháirez brings a well-rounded skillset into this flyweight contest with a notable submission game, securing 7 of his 11 wins via submission. A dangerous grappler with experience across various promotions, Cháirez has demonstrated his ability to finish fights on the ground, as seen in his most recent victory over Daniel da Silva (Submission - Triangle Choke). Despite his 5 losses, Cháirez has shown resilience, only losing twice by submission, which indicates a solid defense against similar threats.
Last 3 Fights
- Win: vs. Daniel da Silva (Submission – Triangle Choke), UFC Fight Night 237: Moreno vs. Royval 2, February 24, 2024 – Round 1, 2:17
- No Contest: vs. Daniel da Silva (Premature Stoppage), UFC Fight Night 227: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2, September 16, 2023 – Round 1, 3:47
- Loss: vs. Tatsuro Taira (Decision – Unanimous), UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez, July 8, 2023 – 3 Rounds
Joshua Van (10-2-0)
Joshua "The Fearless" Van is a dangerous striker, with 6 of his 10 wins coming by KO/TKO. At just 22 years old, he has quickly risen through the flyweight ranks, relying on his aggressive stand-up game. Van’s power is undeniable, but his ground defense may be a concern, having been submitted once and finished via strikes in his most recent loss to Charles Johnson. Despite these vulnerabilities, Van’s ability to end fights with his hands makes him a constant threat.
Last 3 Fights
Loss: vs. Charles Johnson (KO – Punches), UFC on ESPN 59: Namajunas vs. Cortez, July 13, 2024 – Round 3, 0:20
Win: vs. Felipe Bunes (TKO – Punches), UFC Fight Night 234: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2, January 13, 2024 – Round 2, 4:31
Win: vs. Kevin Borjas (Decision – Unanimous), UFC 295: Prochazka vs. Pereira, November 11, 2023 – 3 Rounds
Prediction
Cháirez will likely aim to take the fight to the ground, where he holds a clear advantage in submission grappling. Van, on the other hand, will try to keep the fight standing and utilize his striking to land significant damage early. While Van’s KO power is dangerous, Cháirez's grappling skills might ultimately control the tempo of the fight.
Official Prediction: Édgar Cháirez via submission, Round 2.
