Joshua Van proud to make history for Asian MMA at UFC 328

TL;DR

Joshua Van is set to make history at UFC 328 by defending his flyweight title against Tatsuro Taira, marking the first UFC title fight between two male Asian fighters born in the 2000s. This significant event highlights the growing prominence of Asian MMA.

Key points

Joshua Van is a 24-year-old Burmese fighter.
He is defending his UFC flyweight title for the first time.
The fight features two male Asian fighters born in the 2000s.

Mentioned in this story

Prudential Center

Joshua VanTatsuro TairaUFC 328

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Joshua Van might only be five years into his professional MMA career, yet the 24-year-old is already making history in the UFC.

Van (16-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC), a Burmese fighter, is days away from making his first UFC flyweight title defense against Japan's Tatsuro Taira (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 328 (Paramount+) – which takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. This bout with Taira is the first time two fighters born in the 2000s and two male Asian fighters fight for a UFC title. It's a significant moment for both the general sport and Asian MMA, which makes Van proud.

"It feels familiar. This is not the first time I've fought a guy who was born in the 2000's," Van told reporters at the UFC 328 media day on Wednesday. "This is the second time, it just happens that we're fighting for a title. Two Asian guys as well, so it's going to be great for the Asian community."

When asked if this is the biggest fight in Asian MMA history, Van replied with a quick yes.

"Yeah, for sure," Van said. "This is the first time two Asian males fight for a title. Yeah, for sure."

In terms of the fight itself, Van is confident he'll retain his belt on Saturday despite being the underdog. He knows his strengths, and he plans to lean on them as he faces the standout grappler.

"I think he's a well-rounded guy. Everybody knows him for his ground, but he do have striking, too," Van explained. "Most of his fights, I don't know why, but they try to take him down. Like, I think that's the mistake they make. If he's better than you on the ground, then why are you trying to go to his game. Come Saturday night, I'm going to make him play my game, and if we go to the ground, we'll beat him there too."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 328: Joshua Van proud of historic Asian male title fight

Q&A

What historical significance does Joshua Van's fight at UFC 328 hold?

Joshua Van's fight at UFC 328 is historically significant as it features the first UFC title bout between two male Asian fighters born in the 2000s.

Who is Joshua Van fighting at UFC 328 and what are their records?

Joshua Van is fighting Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328, with Van holding a record of 16-2 MMA and 9-1 UFC, while Taira has a record of 18-1 MMA and 8-1 UFC.

Why is Joshua Van proud of his upcoming title defense?

Joshua Van is proud of his title defense as it represents a significant moment for Asian MMA and the Asian community, showcasing the achievements of fighters from the region.