Joshua Van Handed Indefinite Medical Suspension Following UFC 328 Title Defense.

UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van could be facing time away from competition after sustaining an injury during his dramatic win over Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328. According to medical suspensions issued by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, Van was given an indefinite suspension after suffering a left-hand injury in last Saturday’s main event in Newark. The reigning flyweight champion must now receive clearance from an orthopedic specialist before he can be approved to compete again. The exact nature and severity of the injury has not yet been disclosed. Van retained the UFC flyweight title with a fifth-round stoppage over Taira in a back-and-forth battle that many observers have already labeled one of the best fights in divisional history. After surviving several dangerous submission attempts early in the contest, Van rallied late and overwhelmed Taira with strikes to secure the finish. The 24-year-old champion has quickly emerged as one of the UFC’s breakout stars. Since capturing the title under unusual circumstances after Alexandre Pantoja was unable to continue at UFC 323 due to injury, Van has continued his rapid ascent with another successful title defense. A rematch between Van and Pantoja had been widely expected to headline a future UFC event, but Van’s medical suspension could delay those plans depending on the outcome of further evaluations. Taira also received an indefinite suspension following the bout and must undergo a CT scan before returning to action. In addition, the Japanese contender was issued a mandatory 60-day no-contact suspension after suffering the knockout defeat. With the victory, Van extended his winning streak to seven consecutive fights and improved his professional record to 17-2, adding Taira to a recent run of victories over top contenders including Brandon Royval and Bruno Silva.