Tatsuro Taira

Overview

Tatsuro Taira built his name on the mat, but five of his eight UFC finishes-to-date tell a different story: three knockouts and three submissions in an 8-2 UFC run, with the knockouts arriving as often as the chokes.

"The Best" is a Flyweight from Okinawa, Japan, with a 18-2-0 professional record across all promotions. Inside the UFC he is 8-2, with six finishes. His best win on paper is Brandon Moreno, an opponent our model rates as elite. His last fight was a title fight at UFC 328, and it ended in a fifth-round loss.

One win to find his footing again. That's the situation he carries into his next fight.

UFC Career

Taira debuted in 2022 and went to work immediately. A unanimous decision over Carlos Candelario in May was followed by a second-round submission of CJ Vergara in October, then a first-round submission of Jesus Aguilar at 4:20 in February 2023. Another decision, over Edgar Chairez at UFC 290, kept the run at four straight.

Then the finishes changed shape. Carlos Hernandez was stopped by KO/TKO in the second round in December 2023, and Alex Perez went the same way in the second round in June 2024. The Perez fight was Taira's first main event. Six wins in a row, and the longest streak of his career.

The streak ended in his second headliner. Brandon Royval beat him by split decision over five rounds in October 2024, a fight that went the full 25 minutes. A loss, but not a stoppage.

He answered by going back to the finish. HyunSung Park submitted in the second round of another main event in August 2025, then Brandon Moreno stopped by KO/TKO in the second round at UFC 323. That's two wins over opponents our model grades as strong and elite.

UFC 328 was the next step up: a five-round title fight against Joshua Van, another elite opponent. Taira lost by KO/TKO at 1:32 of round five, his first stoppage loss in the UFC.

Eight wins, two losses, one stoppage. Both defeats came in five-round fights.

Fighting Style

Taira is a grappler first. He shoots for takedowns and hunts for submissions far more than most UFC fighters. Three of his eight wins are submissions, one of them in the first round.

He is not one-dimensional, though. Three of his wins came by KO/TKO, all in round two, and every finish he has after the first round came in that second round. He finishes in both phases.

On the feet, he lands less often than most but connects accurately and gets hit less than the typical fighter. The weak spots are defensive. He is easier to hit than most, and he gets taken down more than most, so his results come from efficient offense rather than volume or tight defense.

Notable Wins

• Brandon Moreno — KO/TKO, round 2, UFC 323 (2025)
• HyunSung Park — submission, round 2, UFC Fight Night: Taira vs Park (2025)
• Alex Perez — KO/TKO, round 2, UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira (2024)
• Jesus Aguilar — submission, round 1, UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac (2023)

Quick Facts

• Division: Flyweight
• UFC record: 8-2 (3 KO/TKO, 3 submissions, 2 decisions)
• Professional record (all promotions): 18-2-0
• UFC debut: 2022
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height: 5'7", reach: 70"
• Born: Okinawa, Japan
• Longest UFC win streak: 6