Joshua Van reveals why he used to flip Dustin Poirier fight footage

Joshua Van, two-time UFC flyweight champion, has revealed that he used to study tape of Dustin Poirier by flipping the footage horizontally because Poirier fights southpaw while Van is orthodox. This technique allowed Van to better absorb Poirier's boxing techniques and apply them to his own game.

Van actively studies striking from elite fighters with boxing-based styles, including Ilia Topuria and Petr Yan. However, Yan stands out as Van's primary source of technical inspiration. "He's got my style of fighting," Van told Ariel Helwani. "He's a boxing-based fighter, kind of like Petr Yan, Ilia. I like to study one of the greats and just put it into my game. Petr Yan really is the one that I really watch."

Van defended his title for the second time at UFC 331, showcasing his renowned boxing to defeat Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch. The flyweight champion has become a fan favorite for his striking-heavy approach. His next challenger has not yet been announced, though Manel Kape is considered the frontrunner for a title shot. Meanwhile, Yan is scheduled to defend his own bantamweight title in a trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.