Joshua Van Beats Tatsuro Taira By TKO at UFC 328 to Retain Flyweight Title

Joshua Van notched his first successful defense of the UFC flyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 328, defeating Tatsuro Taira via fifth-round TKO.

It didn't take long for Taira to impose his will on the fight. He got off to a hot start with a takedown in the opening moments, forcing Van to be on the defensive. 

Van was able to scramble to his feet, but Taira clearly held the advantage in the opening frame. He used his boxing to set up takedowns and Van spent much of the first five minutes on the mat. 

Van wasn't going to go away quietly, though. He came out in the second round swinging and started having real success. Taira's response was to once again score a takedown and utilize top control. 

But Van made sure to win the second round when he landed  massive right hand that floored Taira. The challenger survived the round, but Van established his power as a real threat. 

The difference in boxing skill became even more apparent in the third round. Van pieced up Taira while stuffing multiple takedown attempts, changing the tide of the bout. The champion even tried to submit Taira with a rear-naked choke. 

The epic back and forth continued in the fourth round. Taira took down Van after taking a beating in the previous round and made it a competitive period with Van also getting his offense in on the feet. 

Van finally pulled away for the final time in the fifth round. The fight was headed toward some interesting scorecards when he finally got Taira out with a blistering combination.

The win gives Van another signature win and legitimizes his role as the current king of the division. The 26-year-old took the belt from Alexandre Pantoja, but the circumstances push toward an eventual rematch.

The 36-year-old Pantoja suffered a fight-ending elbow injury when Van pushed him down 26 seconds into the fight.

That's not the most satisfying way to win a title, but defending it against a contender like Taira makes up for it. Taira was angling to become the first Japanese UFC champion in history.

Instead, Van denied Taira's bid and could likely turn his attention to a familiar foe. He's interested in putting the Pantoja controversy behind him for good.

"He dominated the division," he told Damon Martin of MMA Fighting. "It's only right they give him the rematch. Yeah, I really hope me and him can run it back."

The rematch would be a great matchup. Van presented an interesting new challenge for the older champion. Giving fans a full version of the fight that doesn't end with a freak injury would be a great next step in his quest to take over the division.