Oh boy, the Ultimate Fighting Championship sure knows how to turn lemons into lemonade. They took two fights that fell through and whipped up something pretty spectacular.
So, here’s the scoop: Joshua Van, a UFC flyweight with a record that’s hard to ignore (10-1), hit up social media on Monday. He shared some bummer news that his face-off with Su Mudaerji at UFC 302 was a no-go. But, plot twist – the fighter from Myanmar wasn’t about to sit this one out. He was itching to stay on the card for the June 1 event in Newark, New Jersey. And guess what? His wish came true.
Enter Tatsuro Taira, stepping in on short notice with an unbeaten streak (15-0) that’s nothing to sneeze at. Originally, Taira was set to throw down with Tim Elliott at UFC Fight Night 241 on May 18. But, as fate would have it, Elliott had to bow out due to an injury he picked up while training. This juicy tidbit was dropped by Van’s management team, Iridium Sports Agency, last Thursday.
Now, let’s talk about Van for a sec. Before joining the UFC, this Fury Fighting Championship regular was stopping fights left, right, and center. Although his last three bouts went to the scorecards, he’s been on an eight-fight winning streak since 2021. Making his mark in the Octagon, Van snagged a split decision win over Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Not too long after, he outplayed Kevin Borjas, and in January, he bagged his first UFC stoppage victory by taking down Felipe Bunes with a flurry of punches at the end of Round 2.
But wait, there’s more. Taira isn’t just another fighter. This top prospect from Japan has nearly doubled Van’s streak, staying unbeaten across 15 fights. A standout from Shooto, Taira has clinched most of his wins before the final bell. He first caught everyone’s eye with a decision victory over Carlos Candelario in 2022. Following that, he secured submissions against C.J. Vergara and Jesus Santos Aguilar, quickly becoming a fighter to watch. His recent victories over Edgar Chairez and Carlos Hernandez have solidified his position as a contender in the flyweight division, which is jam-packed with talent.
And for the cherry on top, UFC 302 is set to be a blockbuster. Headlining the event on June 1 is a clash for the lightweight crown between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. The card at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, is also stacked with a middleweight bout between Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa, a heavyweight showdown featuring Jailton Almeida vs. Alexander Romanov, and a welterweight bout that promises fireworks with Randy Brown taking on Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Talk about an action-packed night!