Joshua Van, the flyweight champion, was initially slated to defend his title at UFC 327. However, an injury forced him to withdraw, and the title bout was rescheduled. This weekend at UFC 328, Van is set to face Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event.
During fight week, Van disclosed in an interview with Full Send MMA that he was willing to fight Taira the previous month despite a minor injury. However, his coaching team opted to postpone the fight to ensure he was 100% ready before stepping 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 prove his claim as the true champion at UFC 328. Van secured the flyweight belt at UFC 323 with a controversial 26-second victory over Alexandre Pantoja, whose elbow dislocated during the fight. Some fans deemed Van’s win as lucky and called for an immediate rematch for Pantoja.
“The Cannibal” is expected to target a return in mid-2026 and is anticipated to fight the winner of the Van vs. Taira title bout. Taira believes Van’s title win was premature, and the upcoming fight at UFC 328 will serve to determine the legitimate UFC flyweight champion.
“I think [Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja ended] too early. We have to prove who the real champion is in this fight [UFC 328].”
English Translation:
Joshua Van Admits Coaches Stopped Him from Fighting Tatsuro Taira at UFC 327 Despite Being Ready
Joshua Van was originally scheduled for his first title defense at UFC 327. However, the flyweight champion had to withdraw due to an injury. The title bout was rescheduled, and this weekend, Van will face Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event of UFC 328.
During fight week, Van revealed in an interview with Full Send MMA that he was willing to fight Taira the previous month despite a minor injury. However, his team wanted him to recover and be 100% before entering the octagon, leading them to call off the bout.
“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 ready to prove who the REAL CHAMP is at UFC 328. Joshua Van won the flyweight belt at UFC 323 in just 26 seconds after Alexandre Pantoja landed on his arm and dislocated his elbow. Due to the controversial ending, some fans have labeled Van’s win as lucky and called for Pantoja to receive an immediate title rematch.
“The Cannibal” is now targeting a return in mid-2026 and is expected to fight the winner of the Van vs. Taira title bout. Even Taira believes Van won the title too early last year, and with what happened to Pantoja being unfortunate, this weekend, when the octagon door shuts, it will be time to prove who the real UFC flyweight champion 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].”