Who does Tatsuro Taira fight next? – 3 possible opponents
Disaster struck for Alex Perez as he toppled to the ground with his knees being ripped to shreds. The undefeated Tatsuro Taira leaned to the side and Perez buckled under the weight. A fluke or intentionally applied, Taira is the winner and will look ahead to the very top of the division. Who is next for the Japanese star?
Wrestling galore: Muhammad Mokaev
Many see Muhammad Mokaev as the best prospect in the flyweight division. With both he and Tatsuro Taira beating Alex Perez in their pervious fight, a super fun bout could be booked between these two grappling-based fighters.
A fight between Mokaev and Taira would put two of the division’s more skilled grapplers against each other and put them to the test before they face human-backpack champion Alexandre Pantoja. The winner moves on the loser takes a step back. But with both being under 25, it’s not detrimental to their title chances. Now’s the best time to make this fight.
Former challenger: Tatsuro Taira vs. Steve Erceg
In all reality, almost anyone Tatsuro Taira fights next will be a former challenger of some type with how Pantoja went through the division. But Steve Erceg is a unique case. He showed great anti-wrestling technique and was the most recent challenger to Pantoja’s title.
A striker first, Erceg would force Taira to answer questions about his ever improving standup. And if Pantoja is looking for fresh matchups on his return, a win over Erceg would put Taira in the conversation, especially if it’s more convincing than Pantoja’s close decision win. A finish would almost certainly put Taira as the next challenger.
The turnaround: Kai Kara-France
If Tatsuro Taira is wanting to have a quick turnaround, Kai Kara-France is your option. Residing in Japan, getting Taira over to UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, to face Kara-France is a logical move. Easy flight, right?
In addition to that, Taira would get the opportunity to face a former title challenger, something the UFC wants, and he would get to turn around in August. It’s almost a given that Kai Kara-France would want to fight in his home country, especially if his teammate, Israel Adesanya, is headlining against Dricus Du Plessis.
This one is probably your most likely. Taira was not injured against Perez and only ate a few low kicks. Fighting at UFC 305 in August actually gives him time to recover a bit out of camp, return to camp, and stake his claim for a title shot with the offering of fresh blood and two big wins.
