Tatsuro Taira

BIOGRAPHY

Tatsuro Taira, born January 27, 2000, is a decorated professional mixed martial artist from Japan who competes in the Flyweight division of the notable Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Taira stands as a formidable force in contemporary mixed martial arts, holding the number 13 ranking in the UFC Flyweight division as of March 5, 2024.

Taira’s journey into the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was driven by a significant shift in his adolescence. Originally, Taira honed his skills in baseball during his elementary school but found his passion for the sport waning as he advanced into junior high. Inspired by his older brother’s involvement with kickboxing at The Palaestra Okinawa, Taira began attending the gym in his high school years. There, under the tutelage of Ryota Matsune, he trained in MMA, a decision that would come to define his career.

Taira found his first taste of victory in the MMA scene in 2017 when he triumphed in the 11th Kyushu Amateur Shuto Championship Tournament and the 24th All Japan Amateur Shuto Championship Tournament. With a string of 10 uninterrupted wins in his amateur Shuto battles, Taira ascended to the professional ranks, a testament to the young fighter’s growing talent.

Renowned fighter Marlon Vera, whom Taira cites as a personal favorite, acknowledged Taira’s potential and dedication to the field, extending a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ message in Japanese. The connection fostered by their shared passion for MMA and this gesture of respect epitomizes the MMA community’s tightly-knit nature.

Taira’s professional debut in MMA was marked by a significant match-up against Yo Otake in the Flyweight division’s first round of the Shuto Rookie of the Year Tournament on August 3, 2018. Taira secured a win by incapacitating Otake with a first-round triangle choke. His match later that year on November 25, 2018, saw him assert his dominance once again in a rematch against Ryu Oyakawa, whom he had previously faced twice as an amateur. Taira clinched victory through a memorable first-round guillotine choke, solidifying his reputation as a contender to be reckoned with. This match earned him the titles of Flyweight Rookie Champion and MVP of the Year.

In another significant bout, Taira faced Takahiro Kobori, the #8 ranked contender in the Shuto World Flyweight Rankings on September 22, 2019. Taira demonstrated his undisputable prowess, defeating Kobori by TKO via ground and pound merely 60 seconds into their fight.

In 2020, Taira was scheduled to face Kiyotaka Shimizu in the Shooto 0329 event. However, the event, scheduled for March 29, 2020, was unfortunately canceled as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this setback, the bout was rescheduled to take place at Shooto 1123 on November 23, 2020, where Taira reigned supreme, securing a unanimous decision victory.

Taira steamrolled through the competition, defeating Yoshiro Maeda, a top-grade athlete ranked #5 in the world in the flyweight division by Shuto, through a rear-naked choke only 61 seconds into their match on March 20, 2021.

His consistent record of wins was eventually rewarded as Taira faced champion Tatsuya Fukuda at the Shuto World Flyweight Championship on July 4, 2021. He emerged victorious through a first-round triangle choke, consequently winning the Championship title. Later, on November 6, 2021, Taira successfully defeated Alfredo Muaiad, the LFN Flyweight Champion in the VTJ 2021 event, captured victory through a first-round rear-naked choke.

Taira’s series of victories paved the path for a significant achievement. On February 4, 2022, he was signed to a multi-fight contract with the esteemed UFC.

However, Taira’s first scheduled bout in the UFC against Carlos Candelario at UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera on April 30, 2022, was postponed due to Candelario’s bout with food poisoning. Undeterred, Taira took on Candelario at UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić on May 14 in what marked his debut UFC appearance and won a unanimous 3-0 decision.

After securing a match with C.J. Vergara at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araújo on October 15, 2022, Taira did not disappoint, claiming his victory through a well-executed armbar submission in the second round. For his outstanding performance, Taira also won the ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus.

On February 4, 2023, Taira continued his reign as he faced off against Jesús Santos Aguilar at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac, scoring a win in the first round through a triangle armbar. The victory was marked by his taking home his second consecutive ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus.

At Professional Shooto 2023 Vol. 3, Taira vacated his Shooto Flyweight Championship on May 21, 2023, stating that he wanted to focus his energy on his upcoming UFC fights. However, despite upcoming bouts with Kleydson Rodrigues and Tim Elliott for June 24, 2023, and May 18, 2024, respectively, both ended up being canceled.

Despite these setbacks, Taira continued to press on. He faced off with UFC newcomer Edgar Chairez on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302, subsequently winning through unanimous decision. In another notable fight later that year, Taira met with Carlos Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 233 on December 9, 2023, and emerged victorious with a knockout in the second round.

With a professional record that paints a picture of a formidable force in the Flyweight division, Tatsuro Taira continues his journey in the UFC, setting his sights on even greater achievements in the exhilarating world of mixed martial arts.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Tatsuro Taira Next Fight?
Tatsuro Taira's next fight is against Carlos Hernandez in Shanghai.

Tatsuro Taira Record?
Tatsuro Taira has a record of 14 wins and 0 losses in UFC.

Tatsuro Taira Ufc?
Unknown

Tatsuro Taira Tapology?
Tatsuro Taira is an MMA fighter whose page is available on Tapology.

Tatsuro Taira Vs David Dvorak?
David Dvořák fought against Tatsuro Taira in a UFC Fight Night MMA bout.

Tatsuro Taira Nickname?
Tatsuro Taira's nickname is "Supernova".

Tatsuro Taira Ranking?
Unknown

Tatsuro Taira Last Fight?
Unknown.

Tatsuro Taira Ufc Next Fight?
Tatsuro Taira's next UFC fight is against Carlos Hernandez in Shanghai.