Joshua van finally inspired the Birmanian flag for the UFC 313 fight

When Joshua van set off a journey for MMA size, one of the most important things he wanted to achieve was to bring Myanmar onto the map.

Well, in a sense, he did just that. While he has worn the Birmanian flag in the spirit for a long time, Van (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will make the way with his homeland flag-a premiere in UFC history. The promotion recently informed the increasing UFC flyweight candidate for the decision to allow the flag after it was not allowed for his first six appearances.

“Yesterday sent me an e -mail and I was full of joy,” said van on Friday to MMA Junkie. “I showed all my coaches and all my friends that I can bring my flag with me. It was a very special day for me. “

Persistence paid off. Van is not quite sure why the flag was not allowed to start, but it was steadily in the organization and asked for permission and on March 8 at UFC 313 the yellow, the green and the red flag with a large white star in the middle are draped over his shoulders in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“Since my first fight in the UFC, I have brought my flag with me every fighter week and ask her if I can get it out,” said van. “I think my first fight, nobody was allowed to bring their flags. So that was understandable. Then I asked her again and again. I think it was the commission or something, they didn’t know whether Myanmar was a country or not. They told me that. I pulled out Google’s and shit to show them that Myanmar is a country. The UFC team was working on getting my flag, especially after my last fight, the victory where I was wearing the mouth protection. That played a big role. “

Van, 23, moved from Myanmar to Texas when he was 12 years old. His assimilation in American society was not easy, but the fight helped him. While he’s all over the way from the world, from his birth, Van has long been a proud representative of the small Southeast Asian country, which is located by China, Laos and Thailand.

Myanmar has been in a civil war since 2021 after a military coup. The turbulent political climate has led to admiration and disapproval in van’s social media DMS.

“Many people have the feeling that this flag does not represent us, but at the end of the day we are our own country and that is our flag,” said van. “I am just happy to represent our country. … Most people are happy about our country, but some people go through it because we feel a kind of way of what we go through. But at the end of the day, people know better about us. “

While Van’s daily focus is preparing on the upcoming enemy Rei Tsuruya (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), it is the ultimate dream to return to Myanmar for the first time after his departure.

“That is the goal. That is the dream, ”said van. “I want to go back and return to my country.”

For more information about the card, see MMA Junkies Event Hub for UFC 313.