Joshua Van closed the show late at UFC 328, stopping Tatsuro Taira by TKO in the fifth round of their flyweight title fight in Newark, N.J.
The bout, which served as the co-main event at the Prudential Center, ended at 1:32 of Round 5. Two of the three judges had the fight scored two rounds apiece heading into the final frame before Van secured the finish.
Van entered the matchup with a 17-2 MMA record and a 10-1 UFC mark, while Taira came in at 18-2 overall and 8-2 in the promotion.
After the win, Van addressed fellow flyweight Alexandre Pantoja, who was in attendance for the fight. "Pantoja, you better get your sh*t right," Van said, before adding, "We can run it back if you want."
Van remains the UFC flyweight champion following the victory at UFC 328.
