Joshua Van left UFC 328 with his title intact and a clear target in mind, stopping Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round and turning his attention toward a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja.
Van defended his belt in the co-main event on Saturday, scoring a fifth-round knockout over Taira in his first title defense since winning the championship at UFC 323 in December.
His previous bout with Pantoja at UFC 323 ended abruptly in 26 seconds due to a freak arm injury suffered by Pantoja, and Van recalled their interaction afterward. “I told [Pantoja at UFC 323], like, I walked up to him because when I was celebrating I didn’t know his arm was like that. After I saw his arm on the screen, I walked up to him, I say, ‘Sorry.’ He says, ‘Sorry,’ this and that, the next thing you know he waited three months and then he came and do little interviews. His ‘pinoche’ hurt, so he’s saying a lot of shit now, so I don’t know what’s up with him.”
Van added that things were cordial when they crossed paths during UFC 328 fight week. “I saw him yesterday, there’s no hate from me. I talked to him, I shake his hand, but I don’t know what he got in his head.”
Looking ahead, Van said he plans to regroup before stepping back into the Octagon. “I’ve got to talk to my team, see what’s up. Maybe heal up a little bit and things like that, so at least one more by the end of this year.”
