'First Japanese' UFC Champion to Be Crowned... 'Monster Fighter' Taiya Faces Joshua Van in Epic Showdown: "Kill or Be Killed"

*This content was translated by AI.

Will the final puzzle piece be completed to rewrite Japanese combat sports history? Ranked No. 3, Taiya Tatsuro (26, Japan), steps into the octagon in pursuit of becoming Japan's first-ever UFC champion.

According to UFC, Taiya and flyweight (56.7kg) champion Joshua Van (24, USA) both recorded 56.7kg at the weigh-in event held on the 8th (Korean time) in Newark, New Jersey, USA, completing their preparations for the title bout. The two fighters will clash for the title in the co-main event of 'UFC 328' at the Prudential Center on the 10th.

This matchup marks the first title fight in UFC history between male fighters of Asian descent. The bout between Taiya, born in Okinawa, and Van, born in Myanmar and later immigrated to the United States, is a high-stakes contest representing a generational shift in Asian combat sports and national pride.

Most importantly, this is Taiya's golden opportunity to break the chain of Japanese fighters who have never held a UFC title. After completing the weigh-in, Taiya stated, "I am ready. I stand here to prove that I am the best," and added with strong determination, "I will bring the championship belt back to Japan."

Taiya is already a leading figure driving the generational shift in the flyweight division. In December last year, he shocked the world by handing former champion Brandon Moreno his first-ever TKO loss, and has since firmly established himself as a rising star in the division alongside young contenders like Ronnie Cavanna. Especially while Moreno has recently fallen into a slump after losing to Cavanna, Taiya has showcased even more solid skills to secure his shot at the title.

Taiya's greatest weapon as the challenger is his sophisticated grappling and cool-headed fight management. However, champion Joshua Van's momentum is no less formidable. Van declared, "I can't wait. Tomorrow is kill or be killed," promising a fiery finish without going to a judges' decision.

Meanwhile, in the main event of this tournament, middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland will face off in their first title defense. During the weigh-in, Chimaev kicked Strickland in the groin, among other heated exchanges, escalating tensions and building excitement for the fight even before it began.

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*This content was translated by AI.