Sherdog Prospect Watch: Tatsuro Taira

Once of the verge of being shut down, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s now-thriving flyweight division continues its roster expansion with the addition of undefeated Japanese prospect Tatsuro Taira. The 22-year-old will walk to the Octagon for the first time when he faces Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Carlos Candelario as part of the UFC on ESPN 35 undercard this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The Paraestra Okinawa standout boast a perfect 10-0 record that features eight finishes. His opponents own a cumulative .563 winning percentage (121-83-11).

A former Shooto titleholder, Taira can strike and grapple as a modern mixed martial artist, but he feels more at ease on the mat. Five of his eight finishes have come by submission. His arsenal offers a variety of techniques, but he has proven particularly versatile with rear-naked and triangle chokes. Taira has competed across multiple divisions during his career, fighting as low as 115 pounds and as high as 135 pounds. He made his professional debut in August 2018, when he was barely 18 years old. He submitted Yo Otake via triangle choke at This Is Shooto, Vol. 2. Taira has alternated between seasoned opponents and fellow prospects in the years since, showcasing a maturity and fight IQ that belies his age.

The most notable test Taira has faced was against World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Yoshiro Maeda at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 2 a little more than a year ago. The bout barely broke the one-minute mark. Taira accepted a grappling exchange after his counterpart pulled guard in an attempt to sweep. After winning the subsequent scramble, Taira moved to his opponent’s back as he tried to return to his feet. He then forced Maeda to carry his weight before locking in the rear-naked choke. Maeda collapsed to the canvas in a last-ditch attempt to resist, but it was all for naught. Still, he went out on his shield and chose to pass out instead of tapping out, the end coming just 61 seconds into Round 1.


The resounding victory, his eighth in a row, earned Taira a chance to capture the Shooto 125-pound championship held by Ryuya Fukuda at Professional Shooto 2021 Vol. 4. Right out of the gate, Taira shot for a successful takedown, spending almost four minutes on top of his opponent. On the mat, Taira controlled Fukuda and landed a few shots to improve his position. Once he achieved full mount, Taira opted to go for a triangle choke, and the unorthodox move paid off within moments. Trapped in a tight submission, Fukuda was forced to raise the white flag with only 29 seconds left in the opening period.


In his most recent appearance, Taira headlined a Vale Tudo Japan event in November and collided with Alfredo Muaiad. There, he proved he could stand his ground on the feet and engaged Muaiad in the standup. Near the four-minute mark, Taira scored with back-to-back punches, buckled his opponent’s knees and landed a knockdown. Once on the mat, he quickly jumped to Muaiad’s back and put the rear-naked choke in place for the finish. Afterward, Taira agreed to terms with the UFC on a contract and now looks toward showcasing his skills on the sport’s grandest stage.