What does Joshua Van’s recent injury withdrawal mean for his upcoming title fight against Tatsuro Taira? The fight has been rescheduled for UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Joshua Van, the reigning UFC flyweight champion, pulled out of his title defense due to an unspecified injury. This fight marks Van’s first title defense after winning the championship at UFC 323, where he became the second-youngest champion in UFC history at the age of 24.
Van holds a professional record of 16 wins and 2 losses, with six consecutive victories leading up to his title win. His opponent, Tatsuro Taira, boasts an impressive record of 18 wins and 1 loss and is currently ranked No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings.
The rescheduled fight is set to co-headline UFC 328, which will also feature a middleweight title bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. This event follows UFC 327, which is headlined by a vacant light heavyweight title bout between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg.
Van made history by becoming the first Myanmar-born champion in UFC history, adding to the significance of his title reign. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the nature of his injury and the potential impact on his training leading up to the rescheduled fight.
As the fight approaches, both fighters will be looking to capitalize on this opportunity, with Taira eager to dethrone the champion and Van aiming to defend his title successfully.
