TLDR
- Joshua Van withdrew from his UFC 327 title defense against Tatsuro Taira due to injury
- The fight has been rescheduled for UFC 328 in May
- Van’s injury forced a last-minute cancellation of the championship bout
- Taira agreed to wait for the rescheduled date to challenge for the title
- UFC 328 will now feature the Van vs Taira championship fight as its main event
Sources: ESPN | Bloody Elbow | LowKickMMA.com
The UFC has rescheduled the championship fight between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira for UFC 328 in May after Van pulled out of their UFC 327 bout due to injury. The title defense was supposed to happen this month but was cancelled at the last minute.
Van suffered an injury that prevented him from competing at UFC 327. The promotion confirmed the cancellation just days before the scheduled event.
New Date Set for May
The UFC moved quickly to reschedule the highly anticipated matchup. Both fighters will now meet at UFC 328, giving Van additional time to recover from his injury.
The promotion has not released specific details about the nature or severity of Van’s injury. Van is the current champion in his division and was preparing to make his title defense against Taira.
Taira remains the top contender and has agreed to wait for the rescheduled date. The Japanese fighter earned his title shot through a series of impressive victories leading up to this opportunity.
🚨🚨🚨 UFC sinek sıklet şampiyonu Joshua Van’in sakatlığı nedeniyle, Tatsuro Taira ile yapacağı maç, UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland kartına alındı.pic.twitter.com/j2PeVQH2No
— Fight Digitale (@fightdigitale) April 5, 2026
This marks the first time Van has had to withdraw from a scheduled fight due to injury. The champion has maintained an active schedule throughout his UFC career.
The UFC 327 card went forward without the title fight as the main event. The promotion restructured the card to feature other fights in the headline position.
Van has held his championship title since his last successful defense. He was looking to extend his winning streak against Taira before the injury occurred.
Taira has been training for this title opportunity for months. The delay means he will need to maintain his training camp for several additional weeks.
UFC 328 Details
UFC 328 is scheduled to take place in May, though the exact date has not been announced. The event will now feature the Van vs Taira championship bout as its main attraction.
The location for UFC 328 has not been confirmed by the promotion. UFC events typically take place in major cities across the United States and internationally.
Both fighters have expressed their commitment to the rescheduled date. Neither camp has made public statements about concerns regarding the new timeline.
The UFC confirmed that the title fight will remain at the same weight class. No changes have been made to the bout agreement beyond the date.
Ticket holders for UFC 327 who purchased specifically for the Van vs Taira fight may be eligible for refunds. The UFC has not released details about ticket policies for the cancelled bout.
This rescheduling represents one of several high-profile fight changes in recent UFC history. Injuries frequently force the promotion to adjust its championship schedule.
Van’s team has stated he is focused on full recovery before the May date. The champion wants to ensure he enters the octagon at full strength.
Taira’s camp has confirmed they will continue training throughout the delay. The challenger views the extra time as an opportunity to refine his game plan.
The UFC 328 card is expected to feature additional championship fights and top contenders. The promotion typically stacks major numbered events with high-profile matchups.
