Under the bright lights, in the main event of the night, Tatsuro Taira bounced back in style on August 2 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, delivering a composed and clinical performance against the previously undefeated Hyun Sung Park with his signature, calm pressure and sharp submission game, Tatsuro Taira hands Park his first loss via Submission just 1:06 seconds into the second round.
This past Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Japan’s rising flyweight star Tatsuro Taira delivered a solid performance over last-minute substitute Hyun Sung Park in UFC Fight Night. It was a gritty victory that showed why perseverance wins fights.
Originally, Tatsuro Taira was scheduled to face Amir Albazi in the main event at UFC Vegas 108. However, just one week before the event, Albazi announced he won’t be able to go ahead with the fight and was removed due to medical clearance issues, and undefeated flyweight Hyun Sung Park (10–0) was named as his replacement on short notice.
Taira suffered his first professional loss in a razor-close split decision last year against Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 98 Though he racked up over 12 minutes of control time, Royval’s high-volume striking tilted two of the judges in his favor. Taira rebounded like a true contender in June 2024 when he picked up a second-round TKO over former title challenger Alex Perez after Perez suffered a knee injury mid-fight
Before that, he racked up finishes over CJ Vergara, Jesus Aguilar, and Carlos Hernandez with slick submissions and clean striking. His technical mastery have earned him comparisons to former champ Demetrious Johnson but this weekend, he faced someone just as composed.
When news broke that Amir Albazi was out due to injury, fans expected a replacement. Few expected Hyun Sung Park to step in on one week’s notice. But that’s what makes Park special, he’s always ready. Park best known for winning Road to UFC Season 1, submitted Seung Guk Choi in his UFC debut, then followed it up with a decision win over Shannon Ross in November 2024. He may not have the big-name yet, but his perfect 10–0 record before the fight of the night, his high fight IQ, and calm pressure fighting have quietly made him a problem in the flyweight division.
For Taira, this fight is about keeping his top-10 spot and proving he’s ready for another leap up the ladder. For Park, it’s a golden chance to make a name for himself on the biggest stage of his career. Both fighters entered the octagon to make statements.
From the opening bell, Taira looked sharp and composed. He dropped Park twice in the first round with pinpoint straight rights that stunned the crowd. Even after Park managed to recover, Taira stayed a step ahead, effortlessly moving into dominant positions and taking the back. Park, a late replacement for Amir Albazi, showed heart off his back but couldn’t mount any offense under the constant threat of Taira’s slick transitions and tight control.
Round 2 didn’t take long to bring a finish. Just 40 seconds in, Taira hurt Park again and immediately swarmed. He took the back, locked in a tight body triangle, and transitioned to a brutal face crank. With no escape in sight, Park was forced to tap at 1:06 of Round 2.
With this win, Taira improves to 16–1 and puts his lone career loss behind him in emphatic style. Park, now 10–1, suffers his first professional defeat but earned respect for stepping up and taking the fight on just a week’s notice.
