After more than two months on the road, the UFC returned to the Apex on Saturday night. Although the often-criticized venue has played host to some underwhelming cards in the past, UFC Vegas 108 delivered plenty of action-packed moments for fans to sink their teeth into.
The biggest storyline to emerge from the event was undoubtedly Tatsuro Taira’s standout performance in the main event.
After suffering the first defeat of his career against Brandon Royval at the same venue last October, Taira (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) bounced back in dominant fashion against Hyunsung Park, reminding everyone he remains a legitimate threat in the UFC flyweight division. The 25-year-old controlled the fight from the opening bell and secured the finish early in the second round via a crushing face crank submission.
Is Taira Ready For a Title Shot?
The Japanese prospect had originally been scheduled to face Amir Albazi, but the Iraqi contender was forced to withdraw from the main event at the last minute due to injury. Despite the opponent change, Taira stayed focused and capitalized on the opportunity.
In his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, Taira called for a title shot against the winner of the upcoming bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van. When Bisping suggested that Taira might need one more win—possibly against former champion Brandon Moreno—before challenging for gold, Taira disagreed, reaffirming his belief that he’s ready for a title opportunity now.
Realistically, though, a more measured approach may benefit Taira’s development. Although the UFC has recently fast-tracked flyweights like Van, Kai Asakura, and Steve Erceg into title contention—largely due to Pantoja having cleaned out most of the division—it might be wise to allow Taira more time to round out his skill set before stepping into a championship bout.
Currently ranked No. 6 in the flyweight division, Taira has only one win over a top-ten opponent. While his victory over Alex Perez last June was impressive, allowing Brandon Moreno to face the winner of Pantoja vs. Van would give Taira the opportunity to gain more experience—perhaps through one or two more fights against other ranked contenders at 125 pounds.
Who's Next?
There’s a real possibility that UFC matchmakers could fast-track Tatsuro Taira straight into the title picture. However, if they opt for a more gradual approach to his development, a logical next step might be a matchup with No. 10-ranked Steve Erceg (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC)—assuming “Astroboy” gets past Ode Osbourne at UFC Vegas 109 this Saturday.
Should Taira defeat Erceg, it would set the stage for a bigger test against a higher-ranked contender. Potential opponents could include former title challenger Kai Kara-France (25-12 MMA, 8-5 UFC) or Amir Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who was originally scheduled to face Taira last weekend before withdrawing due to injury.
With the UFC landscape set to change dramatically once the organization’s broadcast future becomes clearer heading into 2026, it’s evident the company needs new stars to build around for the foreseeable future. Taking a smart, measured approach to developing talented up-and-comers like Taira would be a wise move as the UFC enters the next stage of its evolution—one likely to be defined not just by major events and media deals, but by the rise of marketable, elite fighters capable of carrying divisions and captivating global audiences for years to come.
