Amir
Albazi believes Tatsuro
Taira is one more win away from a title shot and is willing to
be the Japanese prospect’s final test.
Advertisement
An injury-laden year has kept Albazi out of competition since a
split-decision win over Kai
Kara-France in his first UFC headliner in June 2023. After
undergoing heart surgery in November 2023, Albazi was preparing for
a clash against former champ Brandon
Moreno at UFC Mexico this past February before being forced out
due to a neck injury that required immediate surgery. Albazi was
replaced on short notice by Brandon
Royval, who avenged a 2020 loss to Moreno with a split-decision
win.
Pantoja has successfully defended his title three times since
Albazi’s last fight, most recently against Steve Erceg
at UFC 301 this past May. It has been hard for Albazi to sit on the
sidelines watching the rest of division.
“It’s been so hard to deal with this,” Albazi told MMAjunkie.com. “I had a heart surgery back in
November actually. So, imagine coming out from a heart surgery,
start training, getting into a camp [for] fighting Moreno, the next
title contender. And then I get this, I have to do another surgery
for my neck. It was hitting me everyday when I see guys just
fighting and fighting and fighting. But this just motivates me to
get back in and actually be more active than ever.”
However, Albazi has used the layoff productively, making
adjustments to his game —even changing gyms from Xtreme Couture in
Las Vegas to Fight Ready in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Iraqi standout
promises to be his best version ever on his return to action.
“I feel better than ever right now because I had time now in my
career, to sit back, reflect on my style, on my skills, what I can
do better, what I already do good, how do I improve that,” he said.
“I changed gyms, so I don’t live in Las Vegas anymore. I’m training
at Fight Ready in Phoenix. So, I just feel like a way better
version than I was a year back. That’s why I’m so excited. I can’t
wait to go back in. I used this time off in a good way, I didn’t
use it to just sit around and wait.”
The newest entry in flyweight title talks is undefeated Japanese
contender Taira, who has finished four of his six UFC wins. While
his most recent win over Alex Perez
came via an injury TKO last month, Taira initiated the grappling
exchange that resulted in Perez blowing out his knee. Regardless,
Albazi believes Taira needs another win to deserve a title shot and
is willing to be face the Japanese standout on his return to the
Octagon.
“I think he needs one more fight, with someone in the Top 5 – Top 6
maybe,” Albazi said. “Maybe the winner of [Muhammad] Mokaev [vs.]
Manel
Kape or if they give him [Brandon] Moreno, [Brandon] Royval,
anyone that’s kind of battle tested. So then after that fight [he
deserves the title shot], yeah, sure, why not? The guy keeps
winning, the guy is good. Or put him against me. I’m ready for that
challenge too.”