Van Stopped Taira in Round Five to Keep the Flyweight Crown
Joshua Van defeated Tatsuro Taira by TKO at 1:32 of round five in the UFC 328 co-main event on May 9, 2026. Van retained the UFC flyweight championship at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
A close championship fight
Taira entered as a leading contender and challenged Van for the title in a matchup between two young flyweights. The contest remained competitive through four rounds, with both fighters mixing striking and grappling.
Van found the finish in the fifth round, landing strikes that forced the referee to intervene at 1:32. The official method was a TKO by strikes, not a submission or judges’ decision.
The finish came before the scheduled championship distance ended. Van therefore retained the belt through a late stoppage rather than a scorecard verdict.
The champion stayed on top
The bout was the co-main event at UFC 328 and preceded the event’s middleweight title fight between Chimaev and Strickland. The card took place at Prudential Center on May 9.
Van’s victory kept the flyweight championship in his possession and added a successful defense to his record. Taira lost by stoppage after competing into the final round.
UFC’s official results and scorecard page confirm the time, method and title defense. The event recap also describes the bout as a standout fight on the main card.
