Joshua Van says his focus is fully on Tatsuro Taira as he prepares to defend his UFC flyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 328 on Saturday.
Van captured the belt in December when his fight with then-champion Alexandre Pantoja ended due to a freak injury, and he expects that rivalry to resume after he deals with Taira. “Right now, I’m just focusing on Taira. Like I said, me and Pantoja going to run it back anyways after this fight. I don’t think about that no more.”
Van made it clear he believes Pantoja earned another crack at the title. “He dominated the division. It’s only right they give him the rematch. Yeah, I really hope me and him can run it back.”
Before Taira was locked in as his first title defense, Van says the UFC explored other options. “When they first called me for the two weeks’ notice they said Taira or Manel and I said Manel,” Van said. “It didn’t go through. Then for March 7, they said let’s do it and I said yes. Both of them said no, I guess. Now the UFC is like you’re fighting Tatsuro and that’s it.”
Van describes his dynamic with Taira as respectful and views the Japanese contender as more than just a grappler. “Tatsuro, he’s a well-rounded guy,” Van said. “He’s not just a grappler no more. He’s got a little bit of strikes so that kind excites me. I want to test myself against Tatsuro.”
