One latest UFC champion could have an obvious first defense against a first-time opponent in 2026.
Two titles modified hands at the ultimate numbered event of this calendar 12 months, with latest kings crowned in each the bantamweight and flyweight divisions at UFC 323.
Before Petr Yan upset Merab Dvalishvili of their rematch, a brutal elbow injury suffered by Alexandre Pantoja put Joshua Van within the history books because the second youngest UFC champion of all time.
The recovery timeline for Pantoja is currently unclear. Fortunately for the promotion, Saturday’s pay-per-view produced a brand new title contender who could challenge Van within the meantime.
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Who do you would like to see Joshua Van fight next?
Tell us within the comments who you’re thinking that his first flyweight title defense ought to be against.
Daniel Cormier pitches Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira for UFC 325
Before the 2 headlining title fights at UFC 323, Brandon Moreno marked one in every of three former champions on the undercard, joining Jan Blachowicz and Henry Cejudo.
The Mexican had his plans to secure a shot at a 3rd flyweight reign stalled, with Tatsuro Taira stopping Moreno via TKO on the UFC 323 foremost card.
The Japanese fighter has now won eight of his nine bouts, and Daniel Cormier thinks he has done enough to seek out himself competing with gold on the road in 2026. In reality, ‘DC’ made that case to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard just moments after Van’s title win at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
“(Pantoja’s) gonna be out for a bit…it would take a while,” Cormier said on his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen.
“I consider that Tatsuro Taira, after beating Brandon Moreno and ending Brandon Moreno, ought to be fighting for the belt.
“I look over at Mick Maynard last night (at UFC 323) and I said to him, ‘Book them tomorrow!’ He goes, ‘What do you mean?’ I’m going, ‘Tatsuro Taira got hit 10 times…nothing happened…there’s no damage on either side,’” he continued.
“There are fight cards at the start of the 12 months where you can say, hey, I do know Alexander Volkanovski has a fight on February 1, generally we wish to do two title fights on these pay-per-views. Why not make this the second fight (at UFC 325)?
“That’s two months since Pantoja got hurt. Say the winner of that fight needs six months before the subsequent fight, now you’re eight months post-Pantoja’s injury. Now you’ve either got him going into the rematch with Joshua Van or he’s fighting a brand latest champion.”
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Alexandre Pantoja is vowing to regain the UFC flyweight title
It could seem that Taira’s potential title shot after UFC 323 relies on the recovery of Pantoja.
Having made 4 successful defenses of the flyweight title and occupied the throne for well over two years, most consider ‘The Cannibal’ has actually earned an instantaneous likelihood to win back the gold.
But given the way in which he was unseated, it stays to be seen when Pantoja might be healed and prepared for a return to motion.
When he’s back to full fitness, the Brazilian is vowing to change into a two-time champion.
“It’s not nearly myself today. It’s about Joshua Van. Joshua, that’s his destiny to win this belt,” Pantoja said in a post-fight statement on Instagram.
“I’m going to work very hard. I’ve worked very hard my entire life and I’m going to work again and I’m going to (win) my belt again.
“I just wish to work very hard and convey my belt to my home again,” he added.
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