UFC 327 title fight postponed one week before event as immediate new date scheduled

Joshua Van has been forced to delay his title bout with Tatsuro Taira due to injury.

Van and Taira were set to square off in an intriguing clash at UFC 327 for the flyweight title.

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It was set to feature as the chief support to Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg’s light heavyweight fight for the belt.

But the bout has now been postponed with Van forced to call it off just one week before the event.

He has suffered a minor injury and the decision to postpone the event was announced on the broadcast of UFC Fight Night 272.

It will now move to the UFC 328 event on May 9 in Newark in what promises to be a stacked card.

The bout will join a captivating main event title clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland for the middleweight title.

Van hasn’t fought since winning the belt in December last year.

He won the belt with his rival Alexandre Pantoja suffering an injury during the contest, so will understand the pains associated with the delay.

And he will be looking forward to pushing through his minor injury issues to make his first defence.

Joshua Van surprised at Taira fight being made

Van was expected to potentially accept the challenge of rival Manel Kape, who is ranked as a clear contender.

The pair had traded verbal barbs on social media, but their bout wasn’t made official with Taira instead selected.

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He explained how the UFC then elected to match him up with the Japanese contender instead, to his surprise.

“When I was in Cali, they called me on short notice because Kayla (Harrison) vs. Amanda Nunes fell off,” he said.

“They offered me two weeks notice and I immediately said yes. I guess they called Manel and he said he can’t, so I said, Ok, cool.’

“He called me out for March 7 and my managers said, ‘Who you want: Manel or Taira for March 7?’ I said Manel, and I said yes on my part, and I don’t know what happened. A couple of days later, they said Taira.”

“I thought it was the better match-up too. We were going off on Twitter.

“I said yes, and I guess something happened on his part. The UFC said Taira.”