Pantoja injured in opening seconds; Van wins title

Key Highlights

• He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time. Follow on XEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLAS VEGAS -- One of the best flyweight title reigns in UFC history came to an end Saturday night in unceremonious fashion. Joshua Van (16-2) became the second-youngest champion in UFC history, as he won the 125-pound championship with a TKO finish over Alexandre Pantoja (30-6) in the co-main event of UFC 323 inside T-Mobile Arena. The finish came just 26 seconds in, when Pantoja appeared to suffer a serious injury to his left arm as he tumbled to the canvas after Van caught a head-kick attempt.
• It marked Pantoja's first loss in more than five years."I didn't know what happened," Van said.
• "He just stopped.
• I was trying to ground-and-pound, but the ref said something was wrong.
• He's one of the greatest of all time and I didn't want the fight to go that way."Pantoja, who defended the belt three times before Saturday, immediately left the Octagon to seek medical attention.