Charles Johnson doesn’t see anything different from the Joshua Van he stopped a year ago and the one at UFC 317.
The unranked UFC flyweight is coming off a stellar 2024 schedule. In 8 months, Johnson turned a three-fight losing skid into a four-fight win streak with $100,000 in performance bonuses.
Between near-finishes of Jake Hadley and Sumadaerji, Johnson became the first fighter to stop the current #1 contender Joshua Van inside the distance when he scored an uppercut knockout at UFC Denver on July 11, 2024.
This is Van’s only UFC loss and he has since bounced back with five straight wins, his latest a decision victory over Brandon Royval. Van is expected to challenge champion Alexandre Pantoja for the title later this year or early 2026.
Meanwhile, Johnson is unranked and set to face his seventh undefeated opponent, Lone’er Kavanagh, at UFC Shanghai after losing his last fight against the 19-2 Ramazan Temirov.
Johnson spoke to Bloody Elbow regarding Van skyrocketing to the top and his own career trajectory.
Charles Johnson claims he ‘hits harder’ than Joshua Van
Royval vs. Van might be the best fight of 2025.
After 15 minutes of striking action, Van was able to seal the deal of their title eliminator with a late knockdown of Royval in the third round. Van won a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Both Royval and Van are former foes of Johnson’s.
“I thought it was a good fight,” Johnson said of Royval vs. Van at UFC 317.
“I thought Royval allowed the fight to stay in Joshua Van’s ballpark. I think Royval has a lot more tools than what he showed in that fight, and I thought that he allowed the fight to get away from him.
“And he fought with a lot of ego, just knowing what he can do. Like, seeing what he can do, watching him. I don’t know where his mind and body was at for that fight, but regardless of that, it was a great fight.
“They both fought really well. But for me, I didn’t see anything different from a year ago,” Johnson said of Van.
“Van got hit 200 times, man. So did Royval. And so for me, it’s like, I don’t need 200 punches. I hit harder. I don’t need 200 punches. I’ve shown that. I’ve dropped my last three or four opponents. Knocked them down, hurt them. Could’ve finished a couple of them. So it’s just I don’t need 200 punches. So, watching the fight, it made me excited.
“But, I know it’s not a fight I’m gonna get back anytime soon,” Johnson said of a rematch with Van.
Charles Johnson wants Brandon Moreno after next fight
Once the #13-ranked flyweight in the world, Johnson will look to reenter the rankings with a win over the 9-0 Lone’er Kavanagh on Aug. 23 in Shanghai.
4-1 in his last five, coming off a loss to Temirov, Johnson says he could be 1-2 fights away from a top dog in the division like former champion Brandon Moreno.
However, Johnson has business to take care of first.
“I gotta go out here and beat a 9-0 kid who’s gonna put me in a position, and then hopefully get an opportunity,” Johnson said.
“I’m calling it. I want Brandon Moreno. I want that caliber of a fight. I feel like I’ve earned it. Maybe I have to win one more. Maybe it’s not the next fight, but the fight after that, hell yeah. I wanna see a Brandon Moreno.”
Moreno is ranked #2 in the division and is fresh off back-to-back main event wins.
“I wanna see that caliber of fight because I know I’ve earned it. The fans know I’ve earned it. I’ve stepped up every time. I’ve done everything they asked of me,” Johnson continued.
“So watching that fight, man, it just gave me a lot of motivation,” Johnson said of Royval vs. Van.
“I hit the gym that whole week really hard—I haven’t stopped training. I got the itch. I’m right there. Even though it feels like it’s that far off, I’m like, I know I’m right there just watching Van’s trajectory. It gives me a little bit more motivation.
“Things happen for people in different times. And luckily for him, he’s able to get his mom a house. He’s a young guy, man. I hope he does the right thing with his money and he’s blessed, man. So, congratulations and I know my time is coming…”