Japanese Fighter Taiya Tatsuro Faces Joshua Van in Historic UFC Title Bout Taiya Tatsuro, ranked No. 3 in the UFC flyweight division, will compete against American flyweight champion Joshua Van in a title fight at UFC 328. The event, scheduled for the 10th, will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Both fighters successfully completed their weigh-in on the 8th, confirming they each met the 56.7kg weight class requirement. The matchup marks the first title fight in UFC history between male fighters of Asian descent. Taiya, born in Okinawa, and Van, originally from Myanmar and now based in the U.S., will face off in a high-stakes contest. For Taiya, the fight represents a chance to become Japan’s first UFC champion. After the weigh-in, he stated, “I am ready. I stand here to prove that I am the best,” and vowed to “bring the championship belt back to Japan.” Taiya’s recent performance includes a TKO victory over former champion Brandon Moreno in December last year, which solidified his status as a rising star in the division. Since then, he has continued to compete alongside young talents like Ronnie Cavanna. While Moreno has struggled after losing to Cavanna, Taiya has maintained his dominance, showcasing his technical skills and resilience. Joshua Van, the reigning flyweight champion, has declared his intent for the bout. He stated, “I can’t wait. Tomorrow is kill or be killed,” emphasizing his focus on securing a decisive victory rather than relying on judges’ decisions. Van’s aggressive style and physicality make him a formidable opponent, but Taiya’s grappling expertise and strategic mindset could be key to his success. In the main event of UFC 328, middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev will face challenger Sean Strickland in their first title defense.#prudential_center #ufc_328 #japanese_fighter #taiya_tatsuro #joshua_van
UFC 328: Expert Predictions for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Khamzat Chimaev aims to defend his UFC middleweight championship for the first time when he faces former titleholder Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday. Chimaev, who secured the belt by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August, remains undefeated in his professional MMA career and is ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings. His past three victories have all come against former UFC champions, including Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, and du Plessis. Strickland, ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division, enters the fight after a third-round TKO win over Anthony Hernandez in February. This will be his fourth middleweight title fight, following his 2023 victory over Israel Adesanya to claim the belt. However, Strickland has since lost his next two title bouts to du Plessis in 2024 and 2025. The matchup marks a rematch of sorts, as Strickland previously challenged du Plessis for the title. A panel of three former UFC fighters provided insights and predictions for the main event. Dustin Poirier expressed confidence in Chimaev’s ability to secure the win, noting that Strickland’s takedown defense, while decent, may not be sufficient to counter Chimaev’s aggressive style. Poirier highlighted Strickland’s footwork as a critical factor, suggesting that if Strickland fails to maintain a strong defensive stance, Chimaev’s pressure could overwhelm him. Poirier also emphasized Strickland’s reliance on front-foot jabs and teep kicks, which, while effective, may not be enough to halt Chimaev’s momentum.#prudential_center #newark_new_jersey #ufc_328 #khamzat_chimaev #sean_strickland
Joaquin Buckley Reacts to Being Excluded from UFC 328 Press Conference MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Joaquin Buckley will not be participating in the UFC 328 pre-fight press conference, despite his scheduled main card matchup against Sean Brady on Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The UFC’s decision to feature only the main and co-main event fighters for Thursday’s event left Buckley and Brady excluded from the media session. Buckley, who recently ended a six-fight winning streak with a loss to former champion Kamaru Usman in June, expressed his feelings about the situation during Wednesday’s UFC 328 media day. When asked how he felt about not being included in the press conference, Buckley told reporters, “That’s a great question. I feel like for me, that’s where I should have been, and where I should be. But May 9, I’ve just got to show the world why I’m a superstar and why I’m a main event fighter.” Buckley emphasized his focus on the upcoming fight as a chance to prove his status. Buckley’s exclusion from the press conference came after his six-fight winning streak was snapped by Kamaru Usman in June. Following the loss, he sought additional training, including time at Kill Cliff FC, where he trained alongside Usman. He described the experience as beneficial, stating, “The training has been good. A lot of people are going to see all the things I learned from Usman, and from that fight, and the things I got to work on skill-wise when I was competing with him just in the gym.” Buckley’s comments highlighted his belief that the lessons from his loss to Usman would translate into improved performance against Brady, a wrestler with an 18-2 MMA record and 8-2 UFC record.#prudential_center #kamaru_usman #ufc_328 #joaquin_buckley #sean_brady
Flames vs Devils Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game The Calgary Flames will face the New Jersey Devils in a matchup that promises to be a battle of defensive grit and strategic play. Analyst Todd Cordell of Covers.com has provided a detailed breakdown of the game, focusing on key players and betting trends. Yan Kuznetsov of the Flames is expected to dominate the ice, particularly in terms of shot blocking, while the Devils’ offensive struggles could create opportunities for the Flames to capitalize. Kuznetsov, a key defenseman for the Flames, has been a standout performer in recent weeks, ranking seventh among defensemen in shot blocks over the past 15 games. With the departure of MacKenzie Weegar at the trade deadline, Kuznetsov’s role has expanded, and his ability to disrupt the Devils’ attack is a major factor in the Flames’ chances. Cordell notes that Kuznetsov has exceeded the 1.5 blocked shots threshold in 63% of his games since the start of the season, making him a strong contender for the Flames’ victory. The Devils, meanwhile, have struggled offensively, ranking 30th or worse in goals per game this season. Their defense, however, has been relatively strong, placing them sixth in shot attempts over the last 10 games. This balance could lead to a high-scoring contest, but the Flames’ defensive depth and Kuznetsov’s presence may tilt the momentum in their favor. For bettors, the game offers several key lines. The moneyline favors the Devils at -171, while the Flames are listed at +150. The puck line shows the Devils as slight favorites (-1.5, +153) and the Flames as underdogs (+1.5, -175). The over/under for total goals is set at 5.5, with even money (-110) on both sides.#calgary_flames #new_jersey_devils #prudential_center #todd_cordell #yan_kuznetsov
New Jersey Devils Host Calgary Flames in Key Regular-Season Clash The New Jersey Devils will host the Calgary Flames in a crucial matchup as part of their ongoing seven-game homestand. Puck drop is set for 7:12 p.m. ET Thursday at Prudential Center. The game marks the fifth installment of the Devils’ homestand and the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Devils, with a record of 32-30-2, aim to extend their playoff hopes, while the Flames, at 25-32-7, are looking to secure a strong finish to their season despite missing the postseason. Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that goaltender Jacob Markstrom will start for the Devils, despite the team’s morning skate being shortened due to Markstrom’s preference to avoid early-game skating. “We gave him the option,” Keefe said, “and he chose to stay off.” The Devils’ lineup features adjustments, including the reuniting of Jesper Bratt with Jack Hughes and the return of Arseny Gritsyuk to play with Cody Glass and Lenni Hameenaho. “It’s a little bit of an adjustment,” Glass said, “but we’ve played with Gritsyuk before, so we know what he brings. Communication is key.” Glass also praised Hameenaho’s growth, noting the rookie’s adaptability to NHL defense. The Devils’ morning skate included all players except Markstrom, who opted out. The team’s practice schedule has allowed for significant preparation during their break, with Keefe highlighting the value of extended practice time. “We’ve been able to get some good practice time,” he said, “and I’m hopeful that will continue to be productive. Between coming out of the break and the gaps between games, I feel we’ve practiced more in these last few weeks than we have virtually the entire season.#calgary_flames #new_jersey_devils #sheldon_keefe #jesper_bratt #prudential_center
