Tatsuro Taira will be back in action on October 15th. The undefeated Japanese flyweight has been booked to take on C.J. Vergara at UFC Fight Night 212 which does not currently have a confirmed venue.
Taira (11-0) signed for the UFC at the start of the year. He was the Shooto flyweight champion and one of the most exciting prospects in Japan.
The 22 year old got off to a good start with a decision win over Carlos Candelario at UFC Vegas 54 on his debut. He has been handed a winnable lookin matchup on his sophomore appearance.
Cashing in on the hype 🤑@TatsuroTaira has arrived to the UFC!
[ #UFCVegas54 | Prelims LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/NFNdvRYZFj
— UFC (@ufc) May 15, 2022
Successful appearance
Vergara (10-3-1) earned a UFC contract on the back of a successful appearance at Dana White’s Contender Series last year. Both his fights inside the octagon have gone the distance and he has a win and a draw.
Before signing with the UFC he was the Fury FC flyweight champion. Vergara was last seen earning a split decision win over Kleydson Rodrigues at UFC 274.
Vergara connecting with the high kick to close out the round! #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/whDNlFKeX0
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) November 6, 2021
Bantamweight bout
The card will also feature a bantamweight bout pitting Cub Swanson (28-12) against Jonathan Martinez (16-4). The former is a WEC veteran who has been on the roster since 2011.
Swanson is 38 but the Hall of Famer is still holding his own after a decade in the UFC with two wins from his last four fights. Coincidentally Martinez was the first fighter to ever defeat Vergara beating him by split decision in 2015.
Cub Swanson’s UFC Hall of Fame induction speech.
[ @CubSwanson | #UFCHOF | Hall of Fame Presented by @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/gyAM8WMX7q
— UFC (@ufc) July 1, 2022
Best of the rest
There are currently two strawweight fights on the card. Angela Hill (13-12) has been matched with Lupita Godinez (8-2) while Sam Hughes (7-4) takes on Piera RodrĂguez (8-0).
In the flyweight division Askar Askarov (14-1-1) has been matched with Brandon Royval (14-6). The former is #4 and the latter is #5 so the winner could be close to earning a shot at the 125lbs title.
UFC Fight Night 212, TBA, October 15th
Angela Hill vs. Lupita Godinez (Strawweight)
Sam Hughes vs. Piera RodrĂguez (Strawweight)
Cub Swanson vs. Jonathan Martinez (Bantamweight)
Brandon Royval vs. Askar Askarov (Flyweight)
C.J. Vergara vs. Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight)
