
Celtic move level with Hearts after win over 10-man Hibs
Celtic levels points with Hearts after defeating 10-man Hibs
Tatsuro Taira is eager for his title shot against flyweight champion Joshua Van, despite the delay due to Van's injury. Taira emphasizes that Alexandre Pantoja deserves the next title shot regardless of the outcome.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 06: Tatsuro Taira of Japan reacts to his win in a flyweight fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Tatsuro Taira had to wait a little bit longer than expected to get his title shot after flyweight champion Joshua Van suffered a minor injury that delayed their fight until UFC 328.
While that required Taira to endure a longer training camp after he had already spent several weeks in the United States, the 26-year-old top contender from Japan never lost sight of the mission and thatās winning his first major championship. While some title fights are built around a rivalry, Taira has nothing but good things to say about Van, especially after they ran into each other a few times in the past.
āJoshua Van, his strength is definitely his striking and his toughness,ā Taira told MMA Fighting. āHeās actually younger than me and just looking back at how he got in that position, everything was so quick. Everything happened like boom and now heās a champ. Iām just looking forward to this fight and facing him in the octagon and seeing what kind of fight heās going to give me.ā
Van became champion after his fight against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 323 came to an anticlimactic conclusion when the Brazilian suffered a freak injury just 26 seconds into the opening round. The result still counted as a win for Van, who claimed the flyweight title as a result.
None of that was Vanās fault, but thereās still been some criticism that he didnāt actually win the title as much as he just benefited from an opponentās injury. But Taira doesnāt hold that against him because he knows Van is a great fighter and how he became champion doesnāt matter now.
āThat accident did happen,ā Taira said. āI was very looking forward to that fight so I was kind of sad in that sense. So we were in the same fight week and I would meet a lot and I could see even before his fight he was full of energy, he was ready for that moment. Again, heās always a fun fighter and I was looking forward to that fight. Very unfortunate with the accident but heās a great fighter. He has great takedown defense, his striking and everything. I wish we could have seen a better fight that day but heās such a great fighter.ā
Tatsuro Taira's title fight against Joshua Van is scheduled for UFC 328.
Tatsuro Taira's title shot was delayed due to a minor injury suffered by flyweight champion Joshua Van.
Tatsuro Taira respects Joshua Van's striking ability and toughness, acknowledging his rapid rise to the championship.
Tatsuro Taira insists that Alexandre Pantoja deserves the next title shot, regardless of his own fight outcome.

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That said, Taira admits that Pantoja sits at the front of the line for a title shot whenever heās ready to compete again.
Thereās a growing list of contenders and prospects all vying for that same opportunity, but Taira knows that beating Van at UFC 328 this Saturday should immediately lead him to a fight against Pantoja.
āI definitely want to fight all of [the top contenders],ā Taira said. āWhat comes first would be going against Pantoja and beating him. But another dream I would say is to have a big fight in Japan, thatās another thing Iām looking forward to. Itās becoming an exciting division.ā
When he was nearing title contention, Taira started studying Pantoja because he had already run roughshod over many of the top fighters at 125 pounds. Pantoja was one of the most dominant champions on the entire UFC roster and Taira expects nothing less when they finally meet.
āYes, Iām ready [for Pantoja],ā Taira said. āAlexandre Pantoja, I met him a bunch of times. I think heās a great champ. Definitely a legendary champ but looking at flyweight now, we have a lot of guys are getting here at high speed with a lot of momentum. It might be a little bit different now from when he fought all the top ranked guys but itās a completely new [group of ranked fighters] at flyweight.
āSo Iām very excited to fight him someday soon with me as the champ and having that fight. I want to show the momentum and the energy that the new generation has.ā
As far as his dream fight as champion, Taira couldnāt imagine anything bigger or better than defending his belt back home in Japan.
The UFC has traveled to Japan plenty of times in the past, but itās been a few years since the promotion held a card there and Taira knows that could all change if he becomes champion.
Add to that, Taira recognizes thereās one fight at flyweight that would not only serve as a perfect title defense for him as champion, but might be one of the biggest matchups in the history of MMA in Japan.
āI definitely want to fight against Kyoji Horiguchi,ā Taira said. āThat would be the biggest fight and the biggest card in the biggest arena possible. That would be my dream.ā