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\nJoshua Van silenced the doubters at UFC 328. |
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For some, Joshua Van<\/a>\u2019s After all, the flyweight title fight barely had a chance to unfold Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI feel great. I think I have proof that I am a world champion, you While Taira was able to impose his will on the ground in the early \u201cI know that he’s a good grappler,\u201d Van said. \u201cBut this is an MMA Pantoja, who has been recovering from the aforementioned arm injury \u201cI thought it was gonna be Pantoja,\u201d Van said. \u201cBut like I said, I “I proved I’m a world champion.”<\/p>\n Flyweight champ Joshua Van<\/a> Results, highlights & more \u27a1\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/6bI6ny7ULm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hRGpMRR7vr<\/a><\/p>\n
\ninjury-shortened victory over Alexandre
\nPantoja<\/a> last December was always going to be accompanied by an
\nasterisk.<\/p>\n
\nbefore Pantoja suffered an arm injury 26 seconds into Round 1 at
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\nUFC 323<\/a>. While Van celebrated becoming a champion, he still had
\nsomething to prove heading into his first title defense against
\nTatsuro
\nTaira<\/a> at UFC 328<\/a>
\non Saturday. Van delivered in that regard, weathering some early
\nadversity en route to a fifth-round technical knockout victory over
\nthe Japanese standout in the evening\u2019s co-headliner at the
\nPrudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.<\/p>\n
\nknow,\u201d Van said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. \u201cShout out
\nto [Taira], nothing but respect to him. He\u2019s a tough
\nmotherf\u2014er.<\/p>\n
\ngoing, Van kept his composure and gradually took control through
\nhis superior striking. That culminated in one final barrage to put
\nhis Japanese adversary away at the 1:32 mark of Round 5.<\/p>\n
\nfight, this is not a jiu-jitsu match. I know my my striking would
\nstand out, and that’s what you [saw] tonight.\u201d<\/p>\nA Rematch Looms Large<\/h2>\n
\nsuffered against Van, was in attendance at UFC 328. All signs are
\npointing toward a rematch between Van and the Brazilian. That\u2019s
\nwhat Van was expecting all along, but he also wanted to stay active
\nrather than wait for \u201cThe Cannibal\u201d make his return.<\/p>\n
\nwasn’t gonna wait for him, for forever, so now they gave me Tatsuro
\nand we got it done. So now \u2014 Pantoja time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\n(@JoshuaVanBT<\/a>)
\ndefends his title with a fifth-round stoppage victory over Tatsuro
\nTaira<\/a> at
\n#UFC328<\/a>.<\/p>\n