Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira both successfully weighed in at 56.68 kg (125 lbs) for their flyweight title bout at UFC 328. The co-main event championship fight is officially confirmed after both fighters hit the required weight. This marks a crucial title opportunity for both competitors in the UFC's flyweight division. The successful weigh-in clears the final hurdle before their championship clash, with the flyweight title on the line.
Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira both came in at the flyweight limit of 125 pounds on Friday, officially clearing the way for their UFC flyweight championship bout at UFC 328, scheduled for Saturday, May 9.
Van, the reigning flyweight champion, enters the co-main event carrying a 17-2 record at just 24 years of age. The Myanmar-born fighter, who trains out of 4oz. Fight Club and competes out of an orthodox stance, stands five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach. His striking output is among the most aggressive in the division, averaging 8.84 significant strikes landed per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most relentless volume strikers in the flyweight rankings.
Challenger Tatsuro Taira arrives ranked fifth in the division with an 18-2 record. The 26-year-old Japanese fighter trains with The Blackbelt Japan and holds a notable physical edge, standing five-foot-seven with a 70-inch reach. Taira brings a different offensive profile to the matchup, averaging 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while still connecting on 60 percent of his significant strikes.
Why it matters
- Van's title is on the line for the first time against a ranked grappling-heavy challenger
- Taira's reach advantage of five inches over the champion could complicate Van's striking output
- The contest pits the division's highest-volume striker against one of its most active grapplers, creating a sharply contrasting style matchup
- A Taira victory would deliver Japan its first UFC flyweight champion
Saturday, May 9, 2026
