The UFC has shuffled its upcoming main event once again. Originally scheduled to be headlined by a flyweight bout between Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira, UFC Vegas 109 - which takes place this Saturday - has undergone a major change after Albazi was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.
In his place, South Korean standout Hyun Sung Park will now take on Taira in the evening’s featured matchup. Park, the winner of the Road to UFC tournament, steps in on short notice for the biggest opportunity of his young UFC career.
Park wasn’t originally slated for this event, but had been lined up as a replacement option for Steve Erceg at UFC on ESPN 72 next month. Now, he finds himself thrust into headlining duties. The 28-year-old flyweight has impressed since joining the UFC, finishing all three of his opponents — Seung Guk Choi, Shannon Ross, and Carlos Hernandez — before the final bell. Undefeated at 10-0, Park has quickly emerged as a serious prospect in the 125-pound division.
Tatsuro Taira will enter the Octagon looking to rebound from the first setback of his professional career. The 25-year-old Japanese talent dropped a razor-close split decision to Brandon Royval in October, snapping a 16-fight win streak. Before that, Taira had been perfect in the UFC, earning six straight victories, including a breakout performance in his first main event where he submitted former title challenger Alex Perez. With 12 of his 16 wins coming via finish, Taira remains one of the most exciting prospects to watch in the division.
Albazi’s injury adds another delay to a once-surging career. He returned to action in June at UFC 289 after over a year on the sidelines, only to fall short in a unanimous decision loss to former champion Brandon Moreno. That result snapped a six-fight win streak that featured victories over notable names such as Kai Kara-France and Francisco Figueiredo. With health now a lingering concern, Albazi’s path back to title contention may take longer than expected.
