Heading into the UFC
on ESPN 58 main event, Tatsuro
Taira had designs on testing himself in the championship
rounds.
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That goal ultimately went unrealized when opponent Alex Perez
suffered a knee injury, resulting in a technical knockout victory
for the Japanese prospect at the 2:59 mark of Round 2. The
finishing sequence occurred after Taira executed a standing back
take and then dragged Perez to the canvas, a move that resulted in
his opponent wrenching his knee on the way down to the floor.
“I came here to fight all five rounds. I haven’t got to fight all
five rounds yet,” Taira said through a translator at Saturday’s
post-fight press conference. “It’s a shame he got injured, but I am
happy with the win.”
As the flyweights fell to the canvas, Taira wasn’t initially aware
of what had happened to his opponent.
“Actually, I didn’t realize that [he was injured],” Taira said. “I
was trying to get his back and trying to finish. Then he [started]
screaming out, and I realized he was injured.
Regardless of how the victory was earned, it was the most
significant victory to date for Taira, who has won five in a row in
UFC competition at 125 pounds and is 16-0 as a professional
overall. With that, the Paraestra Okinawa product enters the top
tier of contenders in the division. Taira is already targeting a
title shot against reigning champion Alexandre
Pantoja, though a UFC 304 matchup between Muhammad
Mokaev and Manel Kape
also has serious championship implications.
“I want to fight against Pantoja this year, but actually I really
want to see who wins between Kape and Mokaev,” Taira said.
In an ideal world, Taira would get that opportunity on home
soil.
“I will be very happy if I can fight my title shot against Pantoja
in Japan and become the first Japanese [UFC] champion,” he said.