Tatsuro Taira may have fallen short at UFC 328, but the Japanese contender left Newark with even more respect from MMA fans around the world after delivering one of the best flyweight title fights in recent memory against Joshua Van.
Taira challenged Van for the UFC flyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 328, and the two fighters produced an instant classic inside the Octagon. After nearly five rounds of nonstop action, Van dropped Taira with a huge right hand late in the fifth round before securing the TKO finish.
The loss marked just the second defeat of Tatsuro Taira’s professional MMA career, but the 26-year-old still showed why many believe he remains one of the brightest young stars in the flyweight division.
Following the fight, Tatsuro Taira released a heartfelt statement thanking fans for their support and promising that his journey is far from over.
“I’m sorry for the delay, but thank you so much for all the support from Japan today,” Taira wrote.
“Before and after the match, as always, the entire team, including myself, is supported by so many warm words. Tatsuro Taira’s journey is far from over.”
“After a short rest to recover from the damage, when I return to the road again, I would be delighted if you could continue to run alongside me, enjoying his fight just as you always have.”
Taira also showed respect to Joshua Van after the brutal five-round battle, congratulating the champion on his first successful title defense.
“Thank you, Joshua Van,” Taira continued. “Appreciated you fighting me. Congratulations on your first title defense. True champ. I’m sure we’ll face each other again.”
Many fans and analysts praised both fighters after UFC 328, with some already calling the bout one of the greatest flyweight title fights in UFC history. The fight also served as another reminder of how much the 125-pound division has evolved over the years after UFC CEO Dana White once considered shutting it down completely.
Despite the stoppage loss, Tatsuro Taira immediately protested the referee’s decision inside the cage, with some fans believing the fight may have been stopped too early. However, the Japanese contender refused to focus on controversy in his first public comments after the event.
“Thank you for all your support,” Taira wrote in another message posted on Instagram.“Being able to go to the UFC title match with my favorite people, I wanted to take the belt and rejoice with them, but yesterday didn’t happen.”
“Be strong enough to beat whoever is.”
“We will definitely make it to the title match again. I’ll come back stronger.”
Joshua Van captured the flyweight title under unfortunate circumstances at UFC 323 after former champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered an elbow injury early in their fight. Now, after successfully defending the belt against Tatsuro Taira, Van appears set for a rematch with Pantoja later this year.
As for Tatsuro Taira, the loss may have delayed his championship dreams, but his performance at UFC 328 proved he still belongs among the elite at 125 pounds. With his age, skill set, and composure under pressure, it feels less like the end of a title run and more like the beginning of a long rivalry with Joshua Van.
