{"meta":{"type":"UFC_FIGHT_PREDICTION","url":"https://agentmma.com/articles/2902-3686-joshua-van-vs-tatsuro-taira","canonical":"https://agentmma.com/articles/2902-3686-joshua-van-vs-tatsuro-taira","generated_at":"2026-04-12T04:56:17.760Z","data_source":"AgentMMA AI","confidence_level":"HIGH"},"fight":{"id":333,"status":"upcoming","type":"MMA","organization":"UFC"},"fighters":{"fighter1":{"id":2902,"name":{"full":"Joshua Van","first":"Joshua","last":"Van"},"record":{"wins":16,"losses":2,"draws":0,"win_methods":{"winsByKO":3,"winsBySub":0,"winsByDec":6,"losses":1,"draws":0}},"physical":{"height_inches":65,"reach_inches":65,"weight_lbs":125,"stance":"Orthodox"},"stats":{"striking":{"strikes_landed_per_min":8.86,"strikes_absorbed_per_min":6.36,"striking_accuracy":56},"grappling":{"takedown_average":0.85,"takedown_accuracy":63,"takedown_defense":81,"submission_average":0}},"profile":{"id":2902,"full_name":"Joshua Van","nickname":"The Fearless","page_nickname":"The Fearless","url":"http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/17e97649403ba428","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/joshua-van.png","physical":{"height_in":65,"height_cm":165,"weight_lb":125,"weight_kg":56,"reach_in":65,"reach_cm":165,"stance":"Orthodox","dob":"2001-10-10","age":24},"record":{"wins":16,"losses":2,"draws":0,"raw":"16-2-0"},"career_stats":{"slpm":8.86,"str_acc":56,"sapm":6.36,"td_avg":0.85,"td_acc":63,"td_def":81,"sub_avg":0},"is_parody":false,"strengths":[],"weaknesses":[],"next_fight":null,"news":[],"recent_fights":[]},"recent_fights":[{"fight_id":313682,"event_name":"UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2","event_date":"2025-12-06T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":true,"result_code":"W","method":"KO/TKO","details":"to On GroundArm injury to Pantoja","finish_round":1,"finish_time_sec":26,"time_format":"5 Rnd (5-5-5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":5251,"full_name":"Alexandre Pantoja","first_name":"Alexandre","last_name":"Pantoja","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/alexandre-pantoja.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/alexandre-pantoja.png"}]},{"fight_id":138279,"event_name":"UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira","event_date":"2025-06-28T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"Decision - Unanimous","details":"Mike Bell 28 - 29.Ron McCarthy 28 - 29.Clemens Werner 27 - 30.","finish_round":3,"finish_time_sec":300,"time_format":"3 Rnd (5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":4381,"full_name":"Brandon Royval","first_name":"Brandon","last_name":"Royval","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/brandon-royval.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/brandon-royval.png"}]},{"fight_id":97245,"event_name":"UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2","event_date":"2025-06-07T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Newark, New Jersey, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"KO/TKO","details":"Punches to Head On Ground","finish_round":3,"finish_time_sec":241,"time_format":"3 Rnd (5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":2830,"full_name":"Bruno Silva","first_name":"Bruno","last_name":"Silva","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/bruno-silva.png","hero_url":"https://dmxg5wxfqgb4u.cloudfront.net/styles/athlete_bio_full_body/s3/2024-10/4/SILVA_BRUNO_L_3-30.png"},{"fighter_id":3213,"full_name":"Bruno Silva","first_name":"Bruno","last_name":"Silva","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/bruno-silva.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/bruno-silva.png"}]},{"fight_id":32515,"event_name":"UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev","event_date":"2025-03-08T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"Decision - Unanimous","details":"Mike Bell 27 - 30.Ben Cartlidge 27 - 30.Derek Cleary 27 - 30.","finish_round":3,"finish_time_sec":300,"time_format":"3 Rnd (5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":3318,"full_name":"Rei Tsuruya","first_name":"Rei","last_name":"Tsuruya","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/rei-tsuruya.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/rei-tsuruya.png"}],"strikes_landed":127,"strikes_attempted":169,"strike_pct":75,"tds_landed":0,"tds_attempted":0,"ctrl_time_sec":50},{"fight_id":32616,"event_name":"UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura","event_date":"2024-12-07T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"Decision - Unanimous","details":"Mike Bell 28 - 29.Eric Colon 26 - 30.Ron McCarthy 27 - 30.","finish_round":3,"finish_time_sec":300,"time_format":"3 Rnd (5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":4672,"full_name":"Cody Durden","first_name":"Cody","last_name":"Durden","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/cody-durden.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/cody-durden.png"}]}]},"fighter2":{"id":3686,"name":{"full":"Tatsuro Taira","first":"Tatsuro","last":"Taira"},"record":{"wins":18,"losses":1,"draws":0,"win_methods":{"winsByKO":3,"winsBySub":3,"winsByDec":2,"losses":1,"draws":0}},"physical":{"height_inches":67,"reach_inches":70,"weight_lbs":125,"stance":"Orthodox"},"stats":{"striking":{"strikes_landed_per_min":2.87,"strikes_absorbed_per_min":2.54,"striking_accuracy":60},"grappling":{"takedown_average":3.21,"takedown_accuracy":48,"takedown_defense":45,"submission_average":1.7}},"profile":{"id":3686,"full_name":"Tatsuro Taira","page_nickname":"The Best","url":"http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/4461d7e47375a895","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/tatsuro-taira.png","physical":{"height_in":67,"height_cm":170,"weight_lb":125,"weight_kg":56,"reach_in":70,"reach_cm":177,"stance":"Orthodox","dob":"2000-01-27","age":26},"record":{"wins":18,"losses":1,"draws":0,"raw":"18-1-0"},"career_stats":{"slpm":2.87,"str_acc":60,"sapm":2.54,"td_avg":3.21,"td_acc":48,"td_def":45,"sub_avg":1.7},"is_parody":false,"strengths":[],"weaknesses":[],"next_fight":null,"news":[],"recent_fights":[]},"recent_fights":[{"fight_id":313683,"event_name":"UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2","event_date":"2025-12-06T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"KO/TKO","details":"Punches to Head From Back Control","finish_round":2,"finish_time_sec":144,"time_format":"3 Rnd (5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":4559,"full_name":"Brandon Moreno","first_name":"Brandon","last_name":"Moreno","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/brandon-moreno.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/brandon-moreno.png"}]},{"fight_id":171305,"event_name":"UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park","event_date":"2025-08-02T01:00:00+01:00","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"Submission","details":"Neck Crank From Back Control","finish_round":2,"finish_time_sec":66,"time_format":"5 Rnd (5-5-5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":5625,"full_name":"HyunSung Park","first_name":"HyunSung","last_name":"Park","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/hyunsung-park.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/hyunsung-park.png"}],"strikes_landed":13,"strikes_attempted":20,"strike_pct":65,"tds_landed":4,"tds_attempted":5,"td_pct":80,"ctrl_time_sec":281},{"fight_id":32680,"event_name":"UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira","event_date":"2024-10-12T01:00:00+01:00","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"L","method":"Decision - Split","details":"Chris Lee 47 - 48.Sal D'amato 48 - 47.Ron McCarthy 47 - 48.","finish_round":5,"finish_time_sec":300,"time_format":"5 Rnd (5-5-5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":4381,"full_name":"Brandon Royval","first_name":"Brandon","last_name":"Royval","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/brandon-royval.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/brandon-royval.png"}],"strikes_landed":80,"strikes_attempted":143,"strike_pct":56,"tds_landed":6,"tds_attempted":15,"td_pct":40,"ctrl_time_sec":733},{"fight_id":32847,"event_name":"UFC Fight Night: Perez vs. Taira","event_date":"2024-06-15T01:00:00+01:00","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"KO/TKO","details":"toLeg injury to Perez","finish_round":2,"finish_time_sec":179,"time_format":"5 Rnd (5-5-5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":5439,"full_name":"Alex Perez","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Perez","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/alex-perez.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/alex-perez.png"}]},{"fight_id":33118,"event_name":"UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutierrez","event_date":"2023-12-09T00:00:00Z","location_raw":"Las Vegas, Nevada, USA","weight_class":"Flyweight","is_title_fight":false,"result_code":"W","method":"KO/TKO","details":"Punches to Head On Ground","finish_round":2,"finish_time_sec":55,"time_format":"3 Rnd (5-5-5)","opponents":[{"fighter_id":4565,"full_name":"Carlos Hernandez","first_name":"Carlos","last_name":"Hernandez","profile_url":"https://assets.agentmma.com/carlos-hernandez.png","hero_url":"https://hero.agentmma.com/carlos-hernandez.png"}],"strikes_landed":44,"strikes_attempted":60,"strike_pct":73,"tds_landed":0,"tds_attempted":0,"ctrl_time_sec":216}]}},"ai_analysis":{"teaser":{"main_analysis":"Joshua Van is making his first title defense after that wild 26 second knockout of Alexandre Pantoja back in December, and he's getting a serious test in Miami on April 11. Tatsuro Taira has been on an absolute tear, just finished Brandon Moreno with punches from back control in his last fight. This is the kind of matchup that has the flyweight division buzzing because both guys are finishers who don't mess around.\n\nVan's run to the belt has been crazy. He beat Brandon Royval by decision, knocked out Bruno Silva with ground and pound in the third, then snatched that title from Pantoja before the first round even got going. The guy from Myanmar has been unstoppable, but now he's facing someone who might be even more dangerous. Taira bounced back from that split decision loss to Royval by submitting HyunSung Park with a neck crank and then destroying Moreno. That's two straight finishes against legit competition.\n\nHere's what makes this interesting. Van has shown he can win every way possible, decisions or violent finishes. Taira is slick everywhere, whether he's landing that 80% takedown rate like he did against Park or finishing guys on the feet. Both are orthodox, both are young and hungry, and neither one is content to just survive. Van's got that knockout power that ends fights in a blink, but Taira's back control is suffocating when he gets you there.\n\nThis is the fight that tells us if Van's title win was a fluke or if Myanmar really has a champion. The UFC made it official during the Houston broadcast, passing over the injured Pantoja for this fresh matchup. Van even announced it himself during a fan Q&A, showing he's ready to prove the belt belongs around his waist. His training partners are already feeling the intensity at the gym, with Alden Coria crediting Van's pressure training for his own UFC win.\n\nIn a wild podcast moment, Van admitted he didn't even know Demetrious Johnson fought in the UFC and only knew him from ONE Championship. The young champ is writing his own story without worrying about the division's history.\n\nUPD (5th of April): With less than a week until fight night, both fighters have entered their final preparation phase in Miami. The energy around this title fight is building as Van looks to silence doubters and Taira aims to capitalize on his momentum from those back to back finishes.\n\nUPD (5th of April): The flyweight division is locked in on this one. Van needs to prove his 26 second title win was the real deal, while Taira sees this as his coronation moment after rebounding from that Royval setback with two devastating finishes.","key_storylines":["Van's first title defense after 26 second Pantoja knockout","Taira riding two straight finishes including Moreno destruction","Both guys finish fights, no one's playing it safe"],"finishing_window":"Expect fireworks early because both guys hunt for the finish from the opening bell, and someone's getting hurt when the grappling exchanges heat up."},"advantages":{"striking":{"advantage":"Joshua Van","difference":"208.7%","values":{"fighter1":8.86,"fighter2":2.87}},"grappling":{"advantage":"Tatsuro Taira","difference":"277.6%","values":{"fighter1":0.85,"fighter2":3.21}},"defense":{"advantage":"Joshua Van","difference":"80.0%","values":{"fighter1":81,"fighter2":45}}},"prediction_factors":["Statistical analysis","Fighting style matchup","Recent performance trends","Physical advantages","Historical data patterns"]},"related_links":{"fighter1_profile":"https://agentmma.com/fighters/2902-joshua-van","fighter2_profile":"https://agentmma.com/fighters/3686-tatsuro-taira","all_articles":"https://agentmma.com/articles"}}