News Joshua Van vs Rei Tsuruya set for UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8

[ArmenianAssasin]

Tsuruya is Japan's final hope...currently. Suck to see him lose. Van is fun as fuck to watch, though. Don't really want to see either lose.

Taira is a much better fighter than tsuruya

Big difference in holding on to squeeze out a 29-28 decision against Carlos Hernandez and closing a split in a 5 rounder to royval

Van should be able to take it here — should be able to take to stuff enough do the takedowns to win the exchanges on the feet for a decision or even a late stoppage

 

[sonhow]

I would have rather seen Van beat Silva
This seems bit like bad matchmaking imo

 

[RockyLockridge]

Johnson should have gotten this fight instead of Van imo

Imo Johnson should get pushed much further much faster he should be getting asakura

 

[fortheo]

Taira is a much better fighter than tsuruya

Big difference in holding on to squeeze out a 29-28 decision against Carlos Hernandez and closing a split in a 5 rounder to royval

Van should be able to take it here — should be able to take to stuff enough do the takedowns to win the exchanges on the feet for a decision or even a late stoppage

I think I favor van to win with his boxing, yet I've seen him taken down by worse wrestlers, and I've seen tsuruya spam 15 takedowns in a three round fight, merab style.

It's very much a grappler vs. Striker on paper.

 

[EndlessCritic]

huge step up for tsuruya. great fight, but i don't want to see either guy lose.

 

[Ares Black]

Thanks, I hate it

 

[Bobby Boulders]

Man, that's a good fight, way better than the original, imo. I voted "Silva" in the poll, meaning Tsuruya, but that's a hard one to call.

 

[ArmenianAssasin]

I think I favor van to win with his boxing, yet I've seen him taken down by worse wrestlers, and I've seen tsuruya spam 15 takedowns in a three round fight, merab style.

It's very much a grappler vs. Striker on paper.

Agreed but it comes down to level of competition to me

Van generally does a good job getting back up too

Anything less than -200 im hammering the line

 

[EndlessCritic]

GFL -- average age of fighter is 45 years old

UFC -- puts on great young contender fights between guys who have a combined age of 45.

 

[Brigfa2]

When Pantoja beat Asakura, Tsuruya said ''Asakura is a bum and not worthy to be the UFC champion, i will be the first Japanese champion''
I wonder how he will end up lol

 

[IneedSometop]

Imo Johnson should get pushed much further much faster he should be getting asakura

Him getting booked against Temirov is straight disrespect. He won four fights in a row in 2024 finished Van, beat Maksum who was an undefeated mountain dude that wears hats. Dude deserves a ranked fight. Kai would have been a good fight. Really good challenge to see where Kai actually falls in the division. Maybe he can get someone like Alex Perez on his return or Taira.