Tatsuro Taira

Tatsuro Taira (born January 27, 2000) is a Japanese mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight division. As of June 18, 2024, he is ranked #5 in the UFC flyweight rankings.

[EARLY YEARS] Taira was influenced by his older brother to begin training kickboxing at The Palaestra Okinawa, and began attending the gym in his first year of high school and trained mixed martial arts under Ryota Matsune. In 2017, he won the 11th Kyushu Amateur Shuto Championship Tournament and the 24th All Japan Amateur Shuto Championship Tournament, turning professional with a record of 10 wins from 10 amateur Shuto fights.

[Mixed martial arts career] 『Ultimate Fighting Championship』 【2022】 On February 4, 2022, Taira signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC. Taira was scheduled to make his debut against Carlos Candelario on April 30, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera, but the fight was postponed to May 14, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić after Candelario was forced to withdraw from the fight due to food poisoning prior to the event. Taira made his debut against Carlos Candelario on May 14, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Taira faced CJ Vergara on October 15, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araújo. He won the fight via submission (armbar) in the second round. This victory earned him the Performance of the Night award. This fight took place at a catchweight of 129 pounds after Vergara weighed in at 129 pounds, 3 pounds over the flyweight limit, and was fined 30% of his purse which went to Taira. 【2023】 Taira faced Jesus Aguilar on February 3, 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak. He won the fight via submission (triangle armbar) in the first round. This victory earned him his second Performance of the Night award. On May 21, 2023, at PROFESSIONAL SHOOTO 2023 Vol. 3, Taira vacated his Shooto Flyweight Championship, declaring that he could not defend his title due to his current position in the UFC.

Taira was scheduled to face Kleydson Rodrigues on June 24, 2023, at UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria. However, the fight was scrapped after Rodrigues weighed in at 129 pounds, 3 pounds over the flyweight limit. Taira faced Edgar Chairez at a 130-pound catchweight on July 8, 2023, at UFC 290. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Taira was scheduled to face David Dvořák on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. However, the fight was cancelled for undisclosed reasons. Taira faced Carlos Hernandez on December 9, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 233. He won the fight via KO in the second round. 【2024】 Taira was next scheduled to face Tim Elliott on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241. However, the fight was canceled due to an undisclosed injury to Elliott. Taira was next scheduled to face Joshua Van on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302. The fight was then rescheduled and Taira headlined UFC on ESPN 58 against Alex Perez in the main event on June 15, 2024. Taira won the fight via TKO in the second round after Perez injured his knee. The win earned him his third Performance of the Night award. Taira faced Brandon Royval on October 12, 2024, in the main event of UFC Fight Night 244. He lost the fight via split decision, marking the first loss of his career. This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award.

[Ultimate Fighting Championship]

Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. CJ Vergara, Jesús Aguilar and Alex Perez.

Fight of the Night (One time) vs Brandon Royval.

Tied (with Deiveson Figueiredo) for the fifth-longest win streak in UFC flyweight history.

Third highest percentage of control time in UFC flyweight history (50.5%).

Second highest top position percentage in UFC flyweight history (46.7%).

Second with the highest striking differential in the history of the UFC flyweight division (1.66).

Second with fewest blows absorbed per minute in the history of the UFC flyweight division (1.72).

Second in submissions per 15 minutes in UFC flyweight history (2.47).

[Shoot] Shooto Flyweight Championship (One time).

【Name】 Tatsuro Taira (Taira the Great) 【Birth】 Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan January 27, 2000 (25 years) 【Style】 Grappling 【Equipment】 The Paraestra Okinawa 【Weight】 57 kg (125 lb) 【Stature】 1.70 m (5′ 7″) 【Nationality】 Japanese 【Years active】 2018–present 【Residence】 Naha, Okinawa Prefecture

『STATISTICS』 【Total】 16 【Victories】 16 『By knockout』 5 『By submission』 7 『By decision』 4 『Defeats』 1 『By decision』 1

[Physical] Black slanted eyes. Black hair (natural). Blonde hair (dyed). Short hair. Height of 1.70. Thin but quite muscular body. He has a couple of crooked teeth, but despite that he is quite smiley.

[Personality] Tatsuro cannot speak English, the only language he understands is that of his native Japan (Japanese). His famous phrase at the end of a fight is "I'm happy thank you", this is the only phrase he knows in English and he shouts it at the end of every fight he wins. He has a very close relationship with his parents and his brother. He is quite shy and gets nervous during interviews. He doesn't like very extravagant clothes, he usually dresses quite casually. His favorite hobby is mixed martial arts and he usually spends his free time training even when he doesn't have to.