Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira Prediction & Betting Tips - UFC 328
MMA - UFC 328
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by Geoffrey Ejiga | in UFC Predictions
The flyweight division crowns a new leader this Saturday at UFC 328 as the newly minted champion Joshua Van attempts his first title defence against the surging Tatsuro Taira. This main event at the Prudential Centre is historic, marking the first time in UFC history that two Asian-born men fight for a world title. See our Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira match prediction.
Joshua Van “The Fearless” enters this bout with a professional record of 16-2, having claimed the title in bizarre fashion last December at UFC 323. In that match, Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak arm injury just 26 seconds into the first round, handing the flyweight gold to the 24-year-old Myanmar-born striker.
Despite the abrupt finish, his rise in 2025 was undeniably impressive, featuring a high-pressure knockout of Bruno Silva and a gutsy short-notice victory over Brandon Royval. Standing in his way is The Best, a grappling specialist who has evolved into a legitimate dual-threat finisher.
The 26-year-old boasts an 18-1 record and is coming off the biggest win of his career, a clinical second-round TKO of former champion Brandon Moreno last December. Unlike his opponent, his path to the title shot involved a gruelling five-round war against Royval and a dominant submission win over Hyunsung Park. For us, The Best should be the best man on Saturday.
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Joshua Van - Tatsuro Taira Key Points
- Taira holds a massive five-inch reach advantage (70" vs 65") that will be crucial for keeping Joshua’s high-volume boxing at bay.
- Taira has a 100% finish rate in his last two fights against top-tier opposition, finishing both Hyunsung Park and Brandon Moreno in the second round.
- While Joshua has momentum, his title win came via a 26-second injury stoppage, leaving questions about how he handles championship-level grappling over five rounds.
- Taira possesses elite takedown accuracy and back-control, which is the exact stylistic kryptonite for a pressure-heavy boxer like the champion.
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Our Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira Prediction
Although the champion is an incredible talent with dangerous power, the path he took to the belt avoided the deep-water grappling exchanges where his opponent thrives. The Japanese challenger is simply too technical on the ground and possesses the reach to stifle the pocket-boxing of his younger foe.
We expect the grappling to be the deciding factor as The Best finds the back and secures a finish over The FearlTatsuro Taira wins.ess. Hence, our Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira prediction is that Tatsuro Taira wins.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
