Heading into the main event of UFC on ESPN 58, Tatsuro Taira was looking to test himself in the championship rounds.
That goal ultimately didn’t come to fruition as his opponent, Alex Perez, suffered a knee injury that earned the Japanese prospect a technical knockout victory at 2 minutes, 59 seconds into the second round. The finishing sequence came after Taira performed a standing back take before dragging Perez to the canvas, a move that caused his opponent to sprain his knee on the way to the floor.
“I came here to fight all five rounds and I haven’t been able to fight all five yet,” Taira said through a translator at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “It’s unfortunate that he got injured, but I’m happy with the win.”
When the flyweights collapsed to the canvas, Taira initially had no idea what had happened to his opponent.
“Actually, I [he was injured]”I grabbed his back and was trying to finish him off, and he [started]
He was screaming and I realised he was injured.
Regardless of the circumstances of the victory, it is the most significant win to date for Taira, who has won five straight at UFC 125 pounds and is 16-0 as a professional. The Paraestra Okinawa native now joins the ranks of some of the top contenders in the division. Taira is already in the running for a title bout against current champion Alexandre Pantoja, but the UFC 304 matchup between Mohamed Mokaev and Manel Kape also has major championship implications.
“I would love to fight Pantoja this year, but I would really like to see who wins between Kape and Mokaev,” Tyra said.
Ideally, Taira would get that opportunity in his home country.
“I would be happy to fight Pantoja for the title in Japan and become the first Japanese champion. [UFC] “Champion,” he said.
