Overview
- Joshua Van retained the 125-pound belt with a TKO at 1:32 of Round 5 in Saturday’s UFC 328 co-main event in Newark, New Jersey.
- Tatsuro Taira controlled early with repeated takedowns and mount, but Van’s jab, right hand, uppercuts and body shots swung momentum in the later rounds.
- Two judges had the bout even after four rounds, and Taira protested the fifth-round stoppage as early after absorbing clean, unanswered punches.
- Van out-landed Taira 131–55 in significant strikes and stuffed 13 of 21 takedowns, according to stats reported from the event.
- Both fighters earned $100,000 Fight of the Night bonuses, and Van called out former champion Alexandre Pantoja, as Taira’s defeat also extended Japan’s wait for its first UFC titleholder.