Joshua Van closed the show in championship fashion at UFC 328, stopping Tatsuro Taira by TKO at 1:32 of the fifth round in a high-stakes flyweight clash.
Two of the three judges had the fight scored two rounds apiece heading into the final frame, but Van surged late to secure the finish and the victory. With the win, the UFC flyweight champion improved his record to 17-2 MMA and 10-1 UFC, while Taira entered the bout at 18-2 MMA and 8-2 UFC.
After the fight, Van turned his attention toward fellow flyweight Alexandre Pantoja, who was in attendance. Looking out at the crowd, he said, "Pantoja, you better get your sh*t right," before adding, "We can run it back if you want."
The UFC 328 thriller was later recognized as one of MMA Junkie's nominees for Fight of the Month for May 2026, further highlighting the intensity of Van and Taira's five-round battle.
