The flyweight title bout between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira has been voted the best fight of the first half of 2026 in the UFC. Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria for the lightweight title claimed second place, while Josh Hokit's heavyweight contest earned third.
The flyweight championship clash between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira has been recognized as the best fight of the UFC's first half of 2026, with fans voting the title bout to the top of the mid-year rankings. Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria's lightweight title contest finished second, while Josh Hokit's heavyweight outing secured third place.
Van, nicknamed "The Fearless," enters the record books as flyweight champion at just 24 years old, carrying a 17-2 record into the bout from Myanmar. Fighting out of 4oz. Fight Club, the orthodox striker is one of the most aggressive volume fighters in the division, landing an extraordinary 8.84 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy — numbers that speak to the kind of relentless forward pressure capable of producing memorable fights.
Taira brought his own compelling skill set to the contest. The 26-year-old Japanese fighter ranked fifth in the flyweight division with an 18-2 record and represents a sharp contrast in style to Van. Fighting out of The Blackbelt Japan, Taira averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes, lands 60 percent of his significant strikes, and attempts 1.6 submissions per 15 minutes — a complete grappling threat who clearly pushed the champion to produce a fan-worthy performance.
The runner-up bout featured Ilia Topuria, the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport. The 29-year-old Spaniard carries a 17-1 record and holds the second rank at lightweight, where he averaged 4.81 significant strikes per minute and 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes in 2026.
Why it matters
- Van's title defense generating this level of fan recognition cements his status as one of the flyweight division's most exciting champions in recent memory
- Taira's grappling-versus-striking dynamic with Van created the style contrast that typically produces elite-level entertainment
- Topuria's runner-up finish alongside Gaethje further underlines his star power after moving up to lightweight
