Joshua Van proved he's more than just a champion with an asterisk. At UFC 328, the flyweight titleholder delivered a statement performance that silenced any lingering doubts about his reign.

When Van captured the belt last December at UFC 323, his victory over Alexandre Pantoja came just 26 seconds into the first round after the Brazilian suffered an arm injury. The abbreviated fight left some questioning whether Van had truly earned the title. But Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, Van answered those questions emphatically.

Facing Japanese standout Tatsuro Taira in his first title defense, Van showed championship heart. After weathering early grappling pressure from Taira, the champion found his rhythm and let his striking do the talking. The fight ended at 1:32 of the fifth round with a technical knockout, giving Van the definitive victory he craved.

"I feel great. I think I have proof that I am a world champion," Van said in his post-fight interview. "Shout out to [Taira], nothing but respect to him. He's a tough mother—er."

The champion acknowledged Taira's strength on the ground but emphasized that MMA is about more than one discipline. "I know that he's a good grappler, but this is an MMA fight, this is not a jiu-jitsu match. I know my striking would stand out, and that's what you saw tonight."

With Pantoja watching from the crowd at the Prudential Center, the stage is now set for a highly anticipated rematch. Van, who had hoped to fight Pantoja again but didn't want to wait, is ready for the next chapter.

"I thought it was gonna be Pantoja. But like I said, I wasn't gonna wait for him forever, so now they gave me Tatsuro and we got it done. So now — Pantoja time."

For Van, UFC 328 wasn't just a title defense. It was the night he proved to the world — and to himself — that he belongs at the top of the flyweight division.