10 May 2026 – In a historic clash of Asian mixed martial arts stars, Joshua Van successfully defended his UFC Flyweight Championship for the first time, securing a dramatic fifth-round technical knockout against Japan’s Tatsuro Taira.
The bout served as the co-main event at the Prudential Center on 9 May 2026.
Van, a 24-year-old Chin fighter known as “The Fearless,” dominated the striking exchanges throughout the five-round “Fight of the Year” contender.
Despite being taken down multiple times by the grappling specialist Taira, Van’s relentless pace and superior striking eventually broke the challenger.
The end came at 1:32 of the final round after Van unleashed a devastating front kick to the body followed by a flurry of punches, forcing the referee to intervene.
“I said I was going to finish him inside three rounds, and I almost did, but he’s a tough motherf***er,” Van said during the post-fight press conference. “As soon as I went to the body, it was over. It feels damn good to be the champion again.”
The matchup marked the first time in UFC history that two Asian-born fighters headlined a championship bout. Van, who was born in Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar, and later immigrated to Houston, Texas, continues to shatter records:
At 24, he is the second-youngest champion in UFC history, trailing only Jon Jones. Van remains the first and only UFC champion born in the 2000s (10 October 10 2001). As the first fighter from Myanmar to sign with and win a title in the UFC, Van has used his platform to bring global attention to his homeland, stating after his win, “Now the world will know of us and the people of Myanmar.”
Van captured the undisputed flyweight crown in December 2025 at UFC 323, where he defeated legendary champion Alexandre Pantoja via a stunning 26-second TKO. His first defense against Taira (18-2) further solidifies his standing as one of the pound-for-pound most dangerous fighters in the world, boasting a professional record of 17 wins and 2 losses.
Tatsuro Taira, 26, entered the cage as the No. 3 ranked contender with a nearly perfect record. Despite the loss, Taira’s resilience in surviving four brutal rounds of Van’s striking earned him significant respect and a “Fight of the Night” bonus alongside the champion. – Reporting by Daniel
