This weekend’s UFC event was meant to go down as a crucial flyweight title eliminator for Tatsuro Taira, but a late opponent change could put his championship aspirations on hold for a bit.
Tatsuro Taira Initially Scheduled to Face Fellow Flyweight Contender in Las Vegas
Seeking to rebound from a close split decision defeat to Brandon Royval last year, Tatsuro Taira walks into his third consecutive UFC main event with a lot to prove after suffering the first loss of his professional career. Originally, the Japanese grappling specialist was paired against the equally imposing Amir Albazi. However, less than a week before the much-anticipated scrap was slated to begin, the Iraqi has unfortunately been injured (first reported by Best Fight Picks) and has subsequently been taken off the card.
Per sources next week's main event between Taira and Albazi is off. New main event announcement coming soon.
— Dan (@BestFightPicks) July 27, 2025
On a mission to avenge a recent setback himself, Albazi was planning on reentering the winner’s circle after being bested by former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno last November. The defeat spelled the end of his perfect run in the promotion, as well as his first in over five years. Prior to not getting his hand raised, “The Prince” had notched incredible victories over 125-lb standouts such as Alessandro Costa and Kai Kara-France.
Taira Gets New Adversary in Comeback Match
While his original foe might have bowed out their bout, Tatsuro Taira will not need to worry about his place in the show, as the surging 125-lb phenom has just found a brand new adversary to share the cage with in the form of Hyun Sung Park.
Undefeated at an even 10-0, Park has made a name for himself as a hot prospect in the flyweight division. Earning a coveted UFC contract after two straight first-round stoppages on Road To UFC, “Peace of Mind” has recorded three spectacular wins inside the Octagon, all ending in finishes. Although he remained absent from competition in 2024, the South Korea native stepped back up to the plate this past May at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales. The contest turned out to be a fast night in the office for Park, who choked out Carlos Hernandez in just over two minutes.
Can Tatsuro Taira Seize Title Shot with Resounding Win over Park?
On paper, this matchup should seem like an easily manageable assignment for Tatsuro Taira. Possessing arguably the wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu game in the weight class, The Blackbelt Japan product has been a nightmare opponent for most of the flyweight elite like Edgar Chairez, Alex Perez and the aforementioned Royval. That being said, does he materialize a shot at the belt with a victory over Park?
For some pundits, the answer would be no, as the Korean bruiser, while a stalwart athlete in his own right, isn’t even ranked in the category’s top 15. He also is filling in on very short notice, while Tatsuro Taira has had the chance to take on a full fight camp, meaning that Park’s gas tank should not be up to par with the Japanese’s. All signs seem to point to a swift fight for Taira, and a longer wait to challenge for the 125-lb throne until he topples another high-profile, ranked opponent.
However, even though Park doesn’t have a number next to his name in the flyweight rankings, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t pose a serious threat to Taira. In fact, as evident by his nine stoppages in his ten-bout run as a professional, “Peace of Mind” may have what it takes to upset the heavy favorite. Should Taira manage to put away this prolific scorecard avoider in amazing fashion, especially if he pulls off a highlight reel finish, then there is no doubt that he has the credibility to contend for his first major world championship.
