UFC 328: Joshua Van stops Tatsuro Taira in 1st all-Asian title bout

Burmese Joshua Van retained the UFC flyweight championship in emphatic fashion, stopping Japanese Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round of their historic co-main event clash at UFC 328 on Sunday morning (Philippine time) in Newark, New Jersey.

Van overwhelmed Taira in the final round with a brutal flurry of punches to the head and body. The Japanese challenger staggered across the cage while absorbing unanswered shots, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight at the 1:32 mark.

The bout marked several milestones for the UFC. It was the promotion’s first-ever all-Asian title fight and also the first championship matchup featuring two fighters born in the 2000s.

The 26-year-old Japanese fighter controlled much of the early action behind his grappling, repeatedly taking the champion down in the opening two rounds to neutralize Van’s striking advantage.

However, the 24-year-old Burmese striker gradually settled in as the fight progressed. Late in the second round, Van dropped Taira with a thunderous right hand and nearly secured the finish, before the challenger survived the horn.

The momentum shifted further in the third round with Van defending takedowns more effectively. He also threatened with a rear-naked choke after taking Taira’s back, though the challenger escaped.

Taira regained some momentum in the fourth after securing mount position and threatening a triangle choke, but the champ remained composed and eventually broke free.

After the fight, Van called out former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja in hopes of finally settling their unfinished business. Their first meeting ended in controversy after Pantoja suffered a gruesome elbow and arm dislocation.

—JKC, GMA News