Joshua Van retains UFC flyweight title with fifth-round stoppage of Tatsuro Taira
Van survives relentless grappling attempts from Taira to secure a stoppage victory, while keeping the door open for a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja
Joshua Van has successfully defended his UFC flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. The bout concluded with a stoppage victory for Van in the fifth round, with the referee halting the contest at 1:32. This result marks Van's first title defence following his capture of the belt when original champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered an injury less than 30 seconds into their title fight.
The contest featured a grueling positional battle where Taira repeatedly secured takedowns and mount positions, while Van utilised butterfly guard escapes to return to his feet. Taira opened the fight with a heavy leg kick before shifting tactics to shoot for takedowns, quickly advancing to full mount and scoring multiple double-leg attempts throughout the early rounds. Van survived these ground-and-pound attempts, eventually escaping from choke attempts to return to his feet and engage in striking exchanges.
Van landed a significant knockdown in the second round and a delayed knockdown in the third round via a jab that caused Taira's legs to give way. In the final round, Van landed heavy shots that sent Taira reeling, prompting the referee to step in. Van stated he intended to finish Taira inside three rounds but acknowledged the opponent's toughness after the official time of the stoppage was reached.
Van expressed willingness to face his original title winner, Alexandre Pantoja, in a rematch once Pantoja recovers from an arm injury sustained during their title-winning bout. Van had no problem with the idea of a rematch, stating that Pantoja should get his arm right before they run it back. The specific duration of Taira's arm injury and the exact timeline for his potential return to competition remain unconfirmed, though the UFC has indicated future matchmaking decisions depend on both fighters' health and scheduling.
The event took place at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, and was broadcast live on Paramount Plus. Van's victory erases earlier doubts regarding his credentials as the interim champion, having survived a tough-as-nails challenger who remained relentless despite the accumulation of punishment. The fight demonstrated Van's ability to defend takedowns and utilise his striking range to neutralise a grappling specialist.
