Former UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has weighed in on the upcoming title fight between reigning champion Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, scheduled for May 9 at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.
With the flyweight title on the line, Joshua Van will defend his belt against Tatsuro Taira on May 9 at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. Former champion Alexandre Pantoja believes the matchup will reveal whether Van is truly ready to lead the division, and it lands at a time when 125 pounds is finally getting consistent attention from American MMA fans.
Pantoja’s view is clear: this is the kind of fight that forces a champion to answer every question at once. In his opinion, Taira holds a slight edge because of his grappling and the way he handled former champion Brandon Moreno. He expects a highly competitive fight, but leans narrowly toward Taira.
The stakes go well beyond one title defense. If Van wins, he strengthens his case as the new standard at flyweight and could set up a run of fresh challengers around a division that has lacked a long-term American star. If Taira takes the belt, the UFC gets a major breakthrough moment for one of Japan’s top young talents and a new international centerpiece at 125.
This is also a fascinating style test. Van has built momentum with sharp boxing, poise under pressure, and the kind of pace that plays well with U.S. audiences. Taira, meanwhile, has earned respect as one of the division’s most complete technicians, especially in scrambles and control-heavy grappling sequences. That contrast is a big reason many American observers see this as one of the most meaningful flyweight title fights in recent years.
Newark should only add to the atmosphere. The crowd in that market has a reputation for responding to fast, technical fights, and flyweights often overdeliver when the stakes are highest. On May 9, the key question will be whether Van can stay upright and dictate range, or whether Taira turns the fight into the kind of layered grappling battle that can change the division’s future.
