Joshua Van may have delivered one of the greatest flyweight performances in UFC history at UFC 328, but the young champion did not leave Newark without damage.
Fresh off his thrilling title defense against Tatsuro Taira, Joshua Van is now facing an indefinite medical suspension, potentially delaying a long-awaited rematch with former champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Van retained the UFC flyweight title with a dramatic fifth-round TKO win over Taira in last weekend’s UFC 328 co-main event. The fight instantly earned praise as one of the best flyweight title bouts the promotion has ever seen, with both men pushing each other to the limit over nearly five full rounds.
The 24-year-old champion survived multiple submission scares early before rallying late and overwhelming Taira with brutal strikes to secure the finish. The performance further cemented Joshua Van as one of the UFC’s fastest-rising stars.
According to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, Joshua Van suffered a left-hand injury during the fight and has now received an indefinite medical suspension pending clearance from an orthopedist. Until he gets medically cleared, the UFC cannot book his return to the Octagon.
As of now, the severity of the injury remains unclear. The suspension could put the brakes on a potential rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja, a fight many expected the UFC to target next. Van originally captured the flyweight belt after Pantoja suffered an injury early in their UFC 323 clash, leaving unfinished business between the two fighters.
Taira also received an indefinite suspension following the bout. The Japanese contender must undergo a CT head scan before he is cleared to compete again. In addition, he was handed a 90-day suspension with 60 days of no contact after suffering the fifth-round knockout loss.
Despite the setback, Joshua Van continues to build serious momentum inside the division. The champion has now won seven straight fights and improved his professional record to 17-2, with recent victories over top contenders including Brandon Royval, Bruno Silva and Tatsuro Taira.
Meanwhile, UFC 328 left several fighters dealing with medical suspensions after a brutal night of action in Newark.
Sean Strickland also received an indefinite suspension pending clearance for a possible left-hand injury after reclaiming the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event.
While fans eagerly wait for Joshua Van’s next move, the UFC may now have to pause plans for the highly anticipated Pantoja rematch until the flyweight king receives full medical clearance.
