The road to a UFC title shot is rarely a straight line, but for Tatsuro Taira, a one-month delay was a small price to pay for a shot at history. The Japanese flyweight contender is now just one day away from potentially realizing his dream of becoming the first fighter from Japan to win a UFC championship.

At UFC 328 this Saturday from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Taira (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) steps into the co-main event spotlight as the betting favorite—a rare position for a challenger. Waiting for him is reigning flyweight champion Joshua Van (16-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC), who enters as a slight underdog despite holding the belt.

Van captured the title in dramatic fashion at UFC 323 in December, taking down then-champion Alexandre Pantoja and forcing a fight-ending arm injury just 26 seconds into the first round. That quick finish may have oddsmakers and fans questioning Van's durability, especially when Taira has been equally dominant in his recent run.

Taira's lone career loss came via split decision to Brandon Royval—a perennial title contender—but since that setback, the 26-year-old has been on a tear. At UFC 323, just before Van's title win, Taira needed only 1.5 rounds to dismantle former champion Brandon Moreno with a crushing TKO. That victory followed a submission of Hyun Sung Park, giving him finishes in four straight wins.

Now, with a championship opportunity on the horizon, Taira's dismantling of Moreno serves as a powerful statement—and a potential preview of what awaits Van on Saturday night. Watch the full fight video above to see the performance that earned the Japanese standout his shot at glory.