Joshua Van silences doubters with a knockout in his first UFC title defense

Joshua Van made his first defense of the UFC flyweight championship a decisive one, stopping Japanese challenger Tatsuro Taira by knockout at UFC 328, according to the article. The Myanmar fighter secured the finish with 1 minute and 32 seconds left in the fifth round of their co-main event bout. The victory let Van keep the belt after questions had followed his rise to champion. He had inherited the title after former holder Alexandre Pantoja was injured, and the article says that some fans had criticized the way he became champion. Against Taira, Van answered those doubts with a late stoppage and a successful first defense. The win also extended Van’s run to seven consecutive UFC victories. Three of his most recent four wins, including this one, have come by knockout, the report notes. His record in the UFC now stands at 10 wins and one loss across 11 fights. The flyweight title bout was the fourth fight on the UFC 328 main card, which began at 7:30 a.m. Myanmar time. Van’s win over Taira came in the co-main event, giving the champion a high-profile moment on a card that started early for viewers back home.