Tatsuro Taira Bio
Tatsuro Taira (平良達郎, Taira Tatsurō; born January 27, 2000) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A native of Naha, Okinawa, Japan, he trains out of The Blackbelt Japan and holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As of August 5, 2025, he is ranked #5 in the UFC flyweight rankings and is recognized as the first and only fighter born in the 2000s to fight in and win a UFC main event.
Since turning professional in 2018, Taira has built a reputation as one of the most promising flyweights in the sport, combining a heavy submission game with finishing instincts. His career has bridged the Japanese regional scene and the global UFC stage, earning him multiple post-fight bonuses along the way.
Early Life and Background
Tatsuro Taira was born on January 27, 2000, in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa, Japan. He grew up in the same city where he still lives and trains today, rooted in the local Okinawan combat sports culture that has produced generations of talented fighters.
As a child, Taira started playing baseball in the third grade of elementary school, but he never developed a strong passion for the sport. He took a break from club activities during junior high school, leaving him searching for a new direction. The turning point came through his older brother, who had begun training in kickboxing at The Palaestra Okinawa. Watching his sibling pursue martial arts sparked Taira’s own interest, and he began attending the same gym in his first year of high school.
At The Palaestra Okinawa, Taira trained in mixed martial arts under the guidance of coach Ryota Matsune, whose mentorship helped shape his grappling-heavy style. In 2017, he won both the 11th Kyushu Amateur Shooto Championship tournament and the 24th All-Japan Amateur Shooto Championship tournament, finishing his amateur career with a perfect record of ten wins in ten amateur Shooto fights before turning professional. Taira has cited UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Vera as his favorite fighter.
Path to MMA
Taira’s path to professional mixed martial arts ran directly through the amateur Shooto circuit in Japan. His 2017 double championship, capturing both the Kyushu and All-Japan amateur titles, established him as one of the top young flyweight prospects in the country. With an unblemished 10-0 amateur record, he was promoted to the professional ranks in 2018, joining a long lineage of Japanese fighters who have used Shooto as a springboard to international competition.
Training at The Palaestra Okinawa under Ryota Matsune gave Taira a strong grappling foundation that became the backbone of his professional style. His early success in amateur tournaments was built on submissions and ground control, tools that would later become his signature in the UFC. By the time he made his professional debut, Taira had already accumulated the kind of amateur accolades and developmental experience typically required to enter a major promotion.
Tatsuro Taira Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Taira made his professional debut on August 3, 2018, against Yo Otake in the first round of the flyweight division of the Shooto Rookie of the Year Tournament, winning by first-round triangle choke. Later that year, on November 25, 2018, he rematched Ryu Oyakawa in the flyweight final of the Shooto Newcomer’s Championship Tournament, winning again by first-round guillotine choke and earning both the flyweight rookie championship and the tournament MVP award.
He continued his rise in 2019 with a quick TKO victory over Takahiro Kobori, then settled a score against Yoshiro Maeda in 2021 with a 61-second rear-naked choke. On July 4, 2021, Taira faced Shooto World Flyweight Champion Tatsuya Fukuda and won by first-round triangle choke to claim the title. He added another first-round submission win over Alfredo Muaiad at VTJ 2021 later that year, completing a dominant run through the Japanese regional scene.
UFC Breakthrough (2022–2023)
On February 4, 2022, Taira signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC, marking his transition to the global stage. His promotional debut came on May 14, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 36, where he won a unanimous decision over Carlos Candelario. He followed that with a second-round armbar submission of C.J. Vergara at UFC Fight Night 212 on October 15, 2022, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus in the UFC.
In 2023, Taira picked up another first-round triangle armbar win over Jesús Santos Aguilar at UFC Fight Night 218, taking home his second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus. After vacating his Shooto Flyweight Championship in May 2023, he rebounded from a canceled bout with a unanimous decision win over Édgar Cháirez at UFC 290. He closed the year with a second-round knockout of Carlos Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 233 on December 9, 2023, cementing his status as a rising finisher in the flyweight division.
Main Event Era (2024–Present)
Taira broke into the UFC main event ranks in 2024. On June 15, 2024, he headlined UFC on ESPN 58 against Alex Perez, winning by technical knockout in the second round after a knee injury forced a stoppage, and earned another Performance of the Night award. On October 12, 2024, he faced former title contender Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Fight Night 244, dropping a split decision but taking home his first Fight of the Night bonus.
On August 2, 2025, Taira was originally scheduled to face Amir Albazi in the main event of UFC on ESPN 71, but Albazi withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Park Hyun-sung. Taira won the bout via second-round face crank, becoming the first fighter to defeat Park. He then faced former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323, winning by second-round technical knockout in another high-profile main event appearance.
Style and Strengths
Taira is widely regarded as a grappling-first finisher, with the majority of his professional victories coming by submission. His ground game, built through years of training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling under coach Ryota Matsune, allows him to threaten opponents from a variety of positions, including triangle chokes, rear-naked chokes, and armbars. He has shown a willingness to mix in striking improvements, and his calm demeanor in main event spots has highlighted his composure under bright lights.
Notable Events and Milestones
Taira made history as the first fighter born in the 2000s to fight in and win a UFC main event, a milestone he reached at UFC on ESPN 58 in June 2024. He has also captured a Shooto World Flyweight Championship and earned multiple UFC post-fight bonuses, including Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night awards. His 2025 victory over former champion Brandon Moreno further established his place among the elite of the UFC flyweight division.
Tatsuro Taira Career Wins
Over the course of his professional career, Tatsuro Taira has compiled a record built largely on finishes, with most of his victories coming inside the distance. His run through Japan’s Shooto ranks produced a flyweight championship and several tournament titles, while his UFC tenure has been highlighted by submission wins, knockouts, and a series of high-profile main event appearances.
Shooto Highlights
Taira captured the Shooto Rookie of the Year title in 2018 and later won the Shooto World Flyweight Championship on July 4, 2021, with a first-round triangle choke of champion Tatsuya Fukuda. He also won the Shooto Newcomer’s Championship Tournament MVP award and recorded notable wins over ranked Shooto veterans before vacating the title in 2023 to focus on his UFC career.
UFC Highlights
In the UFC, Taira has earned Performance of the Night bonuses for his submission wins over C.J. Vergara and Jesús Santos Aguilar, a Performance of the Night for his technical knockout of Alex Perez, and a Fight of the Night for his split decision battle with Brandon Royval. His win over former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 323 in December 2025 stands as one of the biggest victories of his career.
Tatsuro Taira Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Taira comes from a family with strong ties to combat sports in Okinawa. His older brother was training in kickboxing at The Palaestra Okinawa, and it was this family connection that first drew Taira into martial arts during his first year of high school. The support of his family, along with his early training environment, helped set the foundation for his professional career.
Personal Life
Tatsuro Taira was born and raised in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, and continues to live and train in the same city. He is a private person outside of the cage, and details about his marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Taira entered 2025 ranked inside the UFC flyweight top ten and was scheduled to face Amir Albazi in the main event of UFC on ESPN 71 on August 2, 2025. Following Albazi’s late withdrawal due to injury, Taira took on short-notice replacement Park Hyun-sung and delivered a second-round face crank submission, becoming the first fighter to defeat Park and earning recognition as a top contender at 125 pounds.
Building on that momentum, Taira was matched against former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323. In another main event slot, Taira produced a second-round technical knockout, further solidifying his case for a future title shot. With multiple post-fight bonuses and a pair of high-profile main event wins in 2025, he ended the year as one of the most talked-about rising stars in the flyweight division.
