Joshua Van, the flyweight champion, was initially slated for his first title defense at UFC 327. However, an injury forced him to withdraw, and the title bout has since been rescheduled. This weekend at UFC 328, Van is set to face Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event.
During fight week, in an interview with Full Send MMA, Van disclosed that he was prepared to fight Taira the previous month despite sustaining a minor injury. Nevertheless, his coaching team opted to postpone the fight, emphasizing the importance of his complete recovery before stepping back into the octagon.
“It was a minor injury, I would’ve taken the fight. The coaches saw something in training and called it off, they told me to rest and be 100% when you fight.”
Tatsuro Taira is eager to establish himself as the true champion at UFC 328. Van secured the flyweight belt at UFC 323 with a swift 26-second victory after Alexandre Pantoja dislocated his elbow. This controversial finish led some fans to question Van’s win and call for an immediate rematch for Pantoja.
Pantoja, nicknamed “The Cannibal,” is anticipated to return in mid-2026 and is expected to face the victor of the Van vs. Taira title bout. Taira himself believes Van’s title win was premature, acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances that befell Pantoja. He stated that this weekend’s fight will be the definitive moment to prove who the legitimate UFC flyweight champion truly is.
“I think [Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja ended] too early. We have to prove who the real champion is in this fight [UFC 328].”