Tatsuro Taira aimed to achieve a significant milestone in a recent high-intensity showdown with Joshua Van, and an individual closely associated with Taira offered thoughts on that particular UFC championship contest. Taira was attempting to become the first-ever Japanese competitor to secure a UFC title, and despite a courageous effort, he was stopped before the final bell by Joshua Van last month in Newark, New Jersey.
Hiromasa Ougikubo is the fighter in question who shares a close bond with Taira, and Ougikubo is recognized as one of the world’s premier flyweight athletes today. Ougikubo currently holds and defends the flyweight championship title under the Rizin Fighting Federation banner and is set to defend his belt against Makoto Shinryu at Rizin Landmark 14 on June 6th. Hiromasa Ougikubo also serves as a regular training partner for Taira, and when providing his perspective on Taira’s defeat to Joshua Van at UFC 328, Ougikubo articulated [as reported by Bowks Talking Bouts],
“My candid assessment, having observed the bout, is that Joshua Van was undeniably superior. His performance was excellent, as he successfully revealed Taira’s weaknesses, proving himself to be a remarkably gifted fighter. That is my straightforward viewpoint.”
Ougikubo Suggests Tatsuro Taira’s Defeat by Joshua Van Confirms Van as Legitimate UFC Champion
A notable win in Ougikubo’s career was against Alexandre Pantoja, considered among the most successful UFC flyweight titleholders in history. Before Van’s clash with Taira, many observers doubted Van’s claim to the top flyweight spot, largely due to his championship win over Pantoja being an injury-related TKO that secured him the 125-pound belt. When asked if Van’s victory over Taira solidified his status as a true UFC champion, Ougikubo articulated [as reported by Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Given that Taira and I share the same training facility, we originate from the same dojo. Therefore, setting aside any personal favoritism, I initially believed Taira would certainly secure a submission victory against Van. However, as the contest unfolded, Van demonstrated remarkable prowess on the mat. He was exceptionally agile, successfully navigating perilous positions, and his striking was evidently of a very high caliber.”
“Regarding the match against Pantoja, yes, that particular outcome was certainly unforeseen. Thus, we cannot draw definitive conclusions from that specific event. Nevertheless, considering his display against Taira, I am convinced that he is deserving of the UFC flyweight championship title.”
