This weekend at UFC 328, Tatsuro Taira has the opportunity to become the inaugural Japanese UFC champion by defeating Joshua Van for the flyweight title.
Taira, holding a professional MMA record of 18 wins and 1 loss, has an impressive 8-1 standing within the UFC, with a majority of his victories coming by way of stoppage. His most recent performance at UFC 323 saw him secure a decisive win over former champion Brandon Moreno, earning him this championship opportunity.
Joshua Van claimed the flyweight gold on the same night Taira triumphed over Moreno. Now, Taira has the chance to dethrone Van and make history as Japan’s first UFC titleholder.
During a media event, Taira expressed his ambition, stating, “It’s my dream, and also the Japanese fans. Japanese fans have been waiting for the UFC belt. I will win and bring the UFC belt back to Japan. I’m ready to seize this opportunity. I must be the person. After I win the belt, I want to help bring a big, big UFC event to Japan.”
Dana White’s Plans for Japan if Tatsuro Taira Becomes Champion
UFC President Dana White has made a significant promise to Tatsuro Taira and his Japanese supporters. Should Taira successfully capture the flyweight championship this weekend, White indicated a strong likelihood of the UFC returning to Japan for a future event.
Speaking to CBS Mornings, White remarked, “If this kid wins, we could go do a fight in Japan again.”
