Rainbet Signs Joshua Van

Sportsbook Rainbet just landed a major coup by signing UFC flyweight champ Joshua Van, who’s gearing up for a blockbuster title rematch with Alexandre Pantoja in LA this September. Van’s rise—bursting onto the UFC scene in 2023, then grabbing and defending the belt—has made him a marketing dream for both Rainbet and the UFC. With a champion at the center of betting storylines, the flyweight division is suddenly in the spotlight, and the stakes are high: if Van wins again, he becomes an even bigger draw for year-end events, and UFC’s betting partners get exactly the kind of action they crave.

But here’s the catch: while brand deals and international expansion ramp up, fighter leverage is shifting too. Michael “Venom” Page, a longtime Bellator star now fighting in Paris, is at the end of his UFC contract and looking to test his value, especially if he notches another big win. If Page leaves, the UFC can still push local heroes like Salahdine Parnasse and Farès Ziam in France, but it’ll be a real test of how much star power matters versus building regional favorites. Meanwhile, Song Yadong’s stunning knockout in Shanghai just threw the bantamweight race wide open—and gave UFC a new headline act for its growing Asian market.

Based on reporting from BBC, 1News.az, MMA Junkie, UFC.com, UFC.com.br, and starnewskorea.com.

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