Van retained the UFC flyweight title at UFC 328 in Newark, finishing Taira with punches at 1:32 of round five in the youngest title fight in promotion history.
The 24-year-old champion out-landed Taira 131-55 in significant strikes and defended 13 of 21 takedown attempts after surviving early ground pressure from the 26-year-old challenger.
The bout was the first UFC title fight between two Asian-born men, while Taira became the eighth Japanese fighter to lose a UFC title bout; Van then welcomed a possible Alexandre Pantoja rematch.
Can Joshua Van truly legitimize his reign by defeating former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch?
What is the key factor preventing Japan's elite fighters from finally capturing a UFC championship belt?
Was Taira’s loss due to one critical mistake, or a fundamental flaw in his grappling-heavy strategy?