- Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira: A Showdown Awaiting at UFC Vegas 117
- Event: UFC Vegas 117
- Location: Meta APEX, Las Vegas
- Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
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Joshua Van is set to face off against Tatsuro Taira at UFC Vegas 117 on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The initial moneyline favors Van at +140, while Taira comes in at -160.
Known as “The Fearless,” Joshua Van boasts a fight record of 16 wins and 2 losses. At just 24 years old, he weighs 125 lbs and stands at 5’5″ tall, with a reach of 65 inches. Opposing him is Tatsuro Taira, referred to as “The Best.” Taira, aged 26, is also a 125 lbs fighter, standing slightly taller at 5’7″ with a reach of 70 inches. Taira aims to secure a win to enhance his impressive record of 18-1-0. In terms of striking, Van averages 8.84 significant strikes landed per minute, while Taira averages 2.94. Van connects on approximately 56% of his significant strike attempts, whereas Taira has an accuracy of 60%. In defense, Van permits 6.39 significant strikes per minute, while Taira allows only 2.44. Notably, Van successfully defends against 57% of strikes aimed at him, compared to Taira’s 47% defense rate.
| UFC Vegas 117 | Joshua Van | Tatsuro Taira |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Odds | +140 | -160 |
| Fight Record | 16-2-0 | 18-1-0 |
| Average Fight Duration | 12:26 | 10:40 |
| Height | 5’5″ | 5’7″ |
| Weight | 125 lbs | 125 lbs |
| Reach | 65″ | 70″ |
| Strikes Landed/Min | 8.84 | 2.94 |
| Striking Accuracy | 56% | 60% |
When it comes to grappling, Joshua Van is somewhat less proficient, averaging 0.84 takedowns per three rounds, with a success rate of 63%. He also defends against 81% of takedown attempts from his opponents. In contrast, Tatsuro Taira finishes 46% of his takedown attempts and successfully defends against 45% of takedowns. Regarding submission attempts, Van pursues 0.6 submissions per 15 minutes, while Taira goes for 1.6 submissions during the same period.
In his most recent fight, Joshua Van competed against Alexandre Pantoja, securing a victory due to an arm injury inflicted on Pantoja in the first round. Pantoja managed to land 6 out of 11 total strikes, achieving a striking percentage of 54%. Van successfully landed 50% of his strikes, connecting on 2 out of 4 attempts. Notably, Pantoja landed 83% of his strikes and 100% of Van’s significant strikes were delivered from a distance.
On the other hand, Tatsuro Taira’s latest clash was against Brandon Moreno, where he emerged victorious after delivering a punch that ended the fight in the second round. Moreno landed 77% of his significant strikes from a distance, while Taira connected on 25% of his attempts. Taira recorded an impressive 58% accuracy, landing 28 out of 48 significant strikes thrown and connecting on 23 of 42 aimed at the head.
Additional Fights to Monitor
Another exciting matchup to watch is Alexander Volkov going head-to-head with Waldo Cortes Acosta. Volkov enters the Octagon with a record of 39 wins and 11 losses. At 37 years old, he weighs 250 lbs and stands at 6’7″ tall, boasting an 80-inch reach. In contrast, Cortes Acosta is 6’4″ and weighs 260 lbs, coming into this fight with a record of 17-2-0, at the age of 34. In the grappling department, Volkov averages 0.57 takedowns per 3 rounds compared to Cortes Acosta’s 0.44 takedowns. In striking, Volkov manages to connect on 4.78 strikes per minute with a 57% landing rate, while Cortes Acosta achieves a 49% accuracy with 5.54 strikes landed per minute.
Another matchup worth watching features Joaquin Buckley clashing with Sean Brady. Brady enters the Octagon with a record of 18-2-0. At 33 years old, he weighs 170 lbs and stands 5’10”, offering a reach of 72 inches. Buckley matches him in weight at 170 lbs and also stands at 5’10”, looking to enhance his record of 21-7-0 at the age of 32. Brady shows impressive wrestling skills, successfully thwarting 86% of opponents’ takedown attempts and achieving a takedown rate of 53%. Conversely, Buckley averages a takedown rate of 45% and defends against 72% of takedown attempts. In striking, Brady takes an average of 3.05 strikes per minute while landing 3.96, whereas Buckley absorbs 2.93 strikes per minute while delivering 3.88 in return.
Who’s your pick for the upcoming UFC bout?
Prediction: Choose Tatsuro Taira (-160)
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