Joshua Van enters the fight with enormous momentum after defeating Brandon Royval in a high-paced war and stopping Bruno Silva earlier this year. His pressure-heavy boxing style has made him one of the most exciting fighters in the division.
Tatsuro Taira remains one of the flyweight division’s most technically gifted grapplers. After bouncing back from a narrow loss to Royval, he re-established himself with submission wins over Steve Erceg and Hyun Sung Park.
Joshua Van
Last 3 bouts:
Win. Brandon Royval – Split Decision
Win. Bruno Silva – TKO
Win. Rei Tsuruya – Unanimous Decision
Fighting style:
Fast-paced boxer with elite hand speed, sharp combinations, and relentless pressure. Van thrives in high-volume striking battles and constantly forces opponents backward.
Strengths:
Excellent boxing fundamentals and accuracy
High pace and cardio over three rounds
Sharp defensive movement during exchanges
Riding a major win streak entering UFC 328
Confidence after beating elite flyweight contenders
Weaknesses:
Can be vulnerable to strong grapplers
Sometimes absorbs damage during aggressive exchanges
Limited submission threat compared to elite grapplers
Keys to victory:
Keep the fight standing and box at range
Use speed advantage to overwhelm Taira in exchanges
Defend takedowns early and force Taira to strike
Tatsuro Taira
Last 3 bouts:
Win. Hyun Sung Park – Submission
Win. Steve Erceg – Submission
Lose. Brandon Royval – Split Decision
Fighting style:
Elite grappler with smooth transitions, dangerous submissions, and intelligent positional control. Taira mixes technical striking with one of the strongest submission games in the flyweight division.
Strengths:
Outstanding submission ability and scrambling
Calm and composed under pressure
Strong takedown timing and back control
Excellent fight IQ
Still one of the youngest contenders in the division
Weaknesses:
Less explosive striking compared to Van
Can be outworked in high-volume stand-up fights
Sometimes starts slowly before finding rhythm
Keys to victory:
Close distance quickly and force grappling exchanges
Attack Van’s defensive wrestling
Slow the pace and make the fight technical
Odds
Joshua Van +136
Tatsuro Taira -162
