UFC 328 results: Joshua Van earns hard-fought TKO of Tatsuro Taira to retain title

Any doubt about Joshua Van’s bona fides as UFC flyweight champion after winning the title when Alexandre Pantoja was injured less than 30 seconds into their title fight was erased Saturday night when Van outlasted a tough challenger in Tatsuro Taira. Van scored a fifth-round stoppage in the co-main event of UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.

Taira opened the fight with a heavy kick, wanting to circle from distance before suddenly changing tactics and shooting for a takedown. Taira quickly reached the body, scored the takedown and quickly advanced to full mount. A positional battle ensued, with Van looking to use a butterfly to get back to his feet, only to be nearly caught in a guillotine choke.

Van eventually escaped the choke attempt and got back to his feet, where he threw a few solid punches. Van’s solid jab was ultimately neutralized by another double leg takedown from Taira. Van escaped again, only to be taken down again, with Taira getting back on horseback and doing some damage before the first round ended.

Van did a much better job defending the takedown early in the second round, allowing him to throw hard combination punches that connected cleanly in Taira’s face. However, Taira remained relentless, again scoring a takedown and quickly reaching mount again. Once again, Van worked on the butterfly guard to get out of the worst possible position and threatened to get up again. Although Taira was on top, it was Van who was landing the most strikes, throwing his back as Taira was too concerned with positioning.

After the fighters got back to their feet, Van scored a big knockdown with a right hand and attempted to unleash big punches before the horn sounded to end the second round.

Taira still looked shaken coming out of the corner for the third round and Van took advantage with sharp punches as Taira suddenly fought off the back foot. Taira shot for takedowns from too far away, allowing Van to easily defend and get right back to his precise boxing.

After another takedown attempt, Van landed a big knee, injuring and bloodying Taira.

A sudden strike from Van resulted in a delayed knockdown as Taira’s legs betrayed him. Van followed up with another flurry and takedown, immediately taking the back and working for a rear naked choke. Taira somehow survived the position and found himself back on his feet. Despite piling up punishment, Taira finished the round with another big takedown, landing in side control.

Somehow, Taira continued to carry the attack in the fourth round, immediately putting Van on his back and working to fully mount again. This time, Van seemed to have less energy to get out of his bad position. When Van finally tried to explode, he was nearly caught by a Taira triangle choke in transition.

The momentum continued to swing as Van was once again able to connect with clean shots as the fight returned to standings, forcing Taira to get on the defensive again.

With the fight potentially on the line in the final round, Van opened the scoring with some big strikes. As Taira tried to get another takedown, Van cracked with heavy shots, ultimately sending Taira reeling. As Van followed up with more big shots, the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

The official stoppage time was 1:32 of round 5.

“I said I was going to finish him in three rounds, and I almost did, but he’s a tough—uh,” Van said of his hard-fought victory. “As soon as I went to see the body, it was over.”

Van’s next title challenge is expected to be a rematch against Pantoja, who injured his arm during his title win. Van had no problem with the idea of ​​a rematch.

“Pantoja, you better do your business right,” Van said. “We can go back if you want. »