Tom Nolan credits Joshua Van for surviving before UFC Vegas 123 TKO

Tom Nolan drew inspiration from Joshua Van’s performance against Alexandre Pantoja while preparing to deal with Renato “Money” Moicano’s grappling at UFC Vegas 123. The Australian lightweight said Van’s composure on the ground helped shape his approach to defending Moicano’s back control. Moicano repeatedly took Nolan down and threatened rear-naked chokes during the opening two rounds of their Oct. 31 main event, but Nolan weathered those threats and ultimately won the bout.Tom Nolan explains how Joshua Van's composure against Alexandre Pantoja helped him withstand Renato Moicano's grappling Following Van’s example, Nolan was prepared to defend from difficult positions and trust that his striking would eventually make the difference rather than take unnecessary risks. “I took a lot of inspiration from Joshua Van’s performance,” Nolan said in a clip posted on X by UFC on Paramount+. “I thought he looked awesome with similar problems.” Nolan recalled watching Van deal with Pantoja’s takedowns and ground control during their UFC 331 flyweight title rematch in September. He was impressed by the champion’s composure despite criticism of his willingness to remain grounded. “I was like, you know what, while I’m in it, I can’t think like that. I can’t worry about what other people are saying,” Nolan said. “I understand that it might be boring if he’s on my back for three minutes or whatever, but I’m playing the long game.” Van retained his title by unanimous decision after five rounds. Nolan used that example as a reminder that he had 25 minutes to find opportunities rather than risk a costly mistake while attempting to escape. Nolan survived Moicano’s grappling attack before finishing him via technical knockout at 1:28 of the third round.Tom Nolan took inspiration from Joshua Van and how he dealt with Alexandre Pantoja's takedowns [ #UFCVegas123 | LIVE on @paramountplus ] https://t.co/sQPECMwkzA— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) November 1, 2026