Alexandre Pantoja suffers horrific injury 26 seconds into UFC 323 title fight as Joshua Van becomes champion

Alexandre Pantoja suffered a shocking injury in the co-main event of UFC 323.

Less than 30 seconds into the UFC 323 fight, Pantoja fell to the canvas and seemingly broke his left arm.

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The Brazilian’s historic UFC flyweight title reign came to an immediate end, and fans inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena could barely watch the replays.

Joshua Van now second-youngest champion in UFC history

It took Van just 24 years, one month and 27 days to become a UFC champion.

Van is the first fighter born in the 2000s to win a UFC title, having defeated Pantoja at UFC 323.

The Southeast Asian native now sits just behind Jon Jones as Dana White’s youngest-ever champion.

He is also the first Asian-born male to win a UFC title.

What happened in Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van at UFC 323?

Dominant 125lbs champion Pantoja put his foot on the gas early, piling on the pressure towards the youngster.

Both men then briefly entered the clinch before Pantoja attempted a sharp head kick.

Van caught Pantoja’s kick, leaving the champion dangling in the air.

Then, as ‘The Cannibal’ went to break his landing, his left arm instantly gave way, and he could no longer continue the fight.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan labelled the incident a ‘complete freak accident’ and ‘so anti-climactic.’

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Pantoja, 35, took to social media immediately after the fight.

“I’ve been through worse,” he wrote.

“I’ll come back even stronger, you can be sure of that. Thank you for the messages.”

Esteemed MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has reported that Pantoja’s injury was a dislocated elbow.

He is expected to require a few months out of the sport, even if surgery is not needed.