UFC 328 live blog: Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira

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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 08: (L-R) Opponents Joshua Van of Myanmar and Tatsuro Taira of Japan face off during the UFC 328 ceremonial weigh-in at Prudential Center on May 08, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

This is the UFC 328 live blog for Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira, the flyweight championship co-main event Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Van (16-2) is coming off of a controversial win over Alexandre Pantoja in which Van claimed Pantoja’s 125-pound title and earned a top 20 spot in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings. Sixteen seconds into their December meeting at UFC 323, the bout was waved off after Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury attempting to post on the mat after being thrown off by Van. Definitive or not, Van officially became the second-youngest champion in UFC history, trailing only Jon Jones.

After suffering his first-ever loss to Brandon Royval, Taira (18-1) rebounded in spectacular fashion, scoring two wins including a second-round knockout of two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. Taira can become the first Japanese fighter ever to become UFC champion and join Van on the list of youngest champions with both having been born in the early 2000s.

Check out the UFC 328 live blog for Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira below.

Preamble​

Ok, we’re now off two decisions in a row and I must admit Volkov vs. WAC wasn’t the most exciting one. This co-main event should be fire, though — and Alexandre Pantoja is definitely waiting to see who walks away with the UFC flyweight belt in Newark.

Taira out to “Power to the People” by John Lennon at UFC 328. He’s looking to become the first Japanese fighter to win a UFC belt. Can he do it?

Van smiles on his way to the octagon for his first appearance since dethroning Pantoja due to an injury, and fans often question his status as a true UFC champion because of that. Beating a rising prospect like Taira would definitely cement his position in the 125-pound division.

Speaking of Pantoja, the former champion is standing a few feet away from Van as he prepares to enter the octagon.

Round 1​

Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro is your referee for the co-main event.

They touch gloves and we are underway. Taira with a calf kick early. And again. Taira shoots for a takedown and Van tries his back, but Taira quickly gets the mount. Impressive.

Round 2​

Round 3​

Round 4​

Round 5​

Official Decision​

Post-Fight​

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