Prelim Preview: Tatsuro Taira vs. Jesus Aguilar | UFC Vegas 68
The UFC returns this weekend after a week off. The main event is a heavyweight slug fest between Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac. But during the week, I want to give shine to some of the up and coming fighters on the undercard of UFC Vegas 68. So we will be diving into that on Prelim Preview! First up, a flyweight fight between Japan’s Tatsuro Taira and Mexico’s Jesus Aguilar!
Tatsuro Taira: 12-0 Record, 3 TKOs and 6 submissions | UFC Vegas 68
Undefeated at 12-0, Tatsuro Taira is the twentieth best flyweight in the world according to Tapology’s rankings. Taira spent his early career in Shooto, one of Japan’s best organizations for fighters. There, he racked up win after win and finally received the call to fight in the UFC in April of 2022. With his first bout postponed by a month, Tatsuro Taira took home a great decision over Carlos Candelario. He returned in October and beat CJ Vergara via arm bar in his second fight.
Tatsuro Taira is an excellent grappler and provides problems to anyone on the ground. He’s won fights via armbar, rear naked choke, triangle, and a front choke. But don’t let the submissions fool you. Taira also notched three wins via ground and pound in a row during his run in Shooto.
Jesus Aguilar: 8-1 Record, 6 Submissions
While Tatsuro Taira is the big favorite in this fight, Jesus Aguilar is coming in to play the spoiler in his UFC debut. Aguilar lost his professional debut but rallied back with eight straight wins. He punched his ticket to the UFC in August of 2022 on Dana White’s Contender Series. There he defeated Erisson Ferreira via guillotine in round number three.
Aguilar is a tough fighter and also has a respectable ground game to compliment Taira’s. Of his eight wins, Aguilar has won four by guillotine and one additional by rear naked choke. Taira is a tough fight for his UFC debut, but should he win, it’s off to the races.
