What happened: Joshua Van nearly secured a championship-retaining finish at UFC 328, following up a massive knockdown by hunting a late submission. Despite the pressure, Tatsuro Taira demonstrated "massive heart" to survive the round after being rocked by the champion.
Why it matters: In this historic first all-Asian men's UFC title fight, Van is proving his underdog status was misplaced against the favorite. Taira's typically dominant ground game has been stifled by the champion's relentless volume and aggressive submission hunting.
By the numbers: Joshua Van (C) entered with a 16-2 record and 8.84 significant strikes per minute. Tatsuro Taira (18-1) averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes but saw his 60% takedown defense tested in this frame. Fight odds at the start of the night favored Taira at -165.
What to watch: Watch to see if Taira can regain his composure and implement his grappling or if Van's striking volume forces a late stoppage.