Flyweight, Josh Van (10-2):
Van has been such a fun addition to the UFC flyweight division since making his debut. 3-1 in the UFC and three strong performances. He’s been so good that it’s been tough for his fights to stick because his opponents eventually pull out or miss weight.
Van is all business in the cage. Van is constantly pressing on the feet looking for striking lanes to exploit. He has the power and speed to score the finish at any time. I call him an opportunist because he knows when to attack. He doesn’t throw anything with wasted motion. Van is exciting and a fan favorite and may be ranked by the end of the year, though he’s now coming off a loss to Charles Johnson.
Bantamweight, Payton Talbott (9-0):
Talbott is a special talent. He gets compared to Sean O’Malley a lot. I was on that boat as well but Talbott is his own fighter and a damn good one at that.
His striking is top-notch whether people want to like him or not. He had questions about his defense early on but that’s about out the window now. He’s the type of striker that likes to download data and pour it on more aggressively as the fight goes on. He’s capable of getting the quick finish but excels as the fight goes. Talbott is a superstar and his stock is only going to rise.
