Hirataro has his sights firmly set on taking down Joshua Vann. Japanese-born athlete Taira made historical past by changing into the primary fighter to complete Brandon Moreno at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, defeating the previous flyweight champion by TKO at 2:24 of the second spherical. With this win, Tyra’s document improved to 18-1 in MMA and 8-1 within the UFC, and positioned him able to straight problem Joshua Bunn, who received the flyweight title within the co-main occasion of the night time after Alexandre Pantoja injured his arm 26 seconds into the bout.
Hirataro plans to complete Joshua Bunn after Brandon Moreno’s historic win
After his dominant efficiency at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Taira appeared on the Ariel Helwani Present and talked about his subsequent transfer. When requested about dealing with Van, Taira expressed confidence that he may have an opportunity to win one other title.
“I believe the struggle with Joshua Bunn might be very thrilling. I am very considering how good he’s and what he has, as a result of he did not present all the things in his final struggle. I even have loads that I did not present. In a five-round struggle, I am positive we will end it sooner or later,” Taira instructed Helwani.
Taira’s path to the title got here with a decisive motion towards Moreno, who entered the match with a document of 23 wins, 9 losses, and a couple of attracts. The Japanese fighter landed a easy takedown within the second spherical, transitioned into again management with a bodylock, and unleashed a sequence of blows that compelled referee Mark Smith to halt the motion. Taira sensed a second of transition.
“I used to be already beginning to really feel it when he did takedowns, physique locks and takedowns, however I felt he was weak, particularly when he went into the bottom. He did not really feel as a lot energy,” Taira defined.
Vann’s path to the title was equally unconventional. The 24-year-old Houston-based fighter from Myanmar turned the second-youngest UFC champion in historical past when Pantoja tried to regain stability after failing to catch a head kick from Bang. When Pantoja fell again and tried to put up along with his arm, his limb broke and his elbow dislocated, leading to a right away TKO.
Regardless of an injury-plagued title struggle, Taira expressed respect for Van’s accomplishments. “Watching Joshua Bang all through this struggle week, I at all times felt like perhaps he may do it. I felt like there could be one thing in him that would make one thing occur, so in that sense I wasn’t shocked. He is the primary Asian male champion, so why not rejoice? Congratulations,” Taira stated in an interview.
Relating to attainable places for the match, Taira expressed his want to journey to or compete in Japan. Vann stated he hopes to defend his title in his adopted hometown of Houston. Taira responded to that problem by specializing in its flexibility. “I am comfortable to go to Houston too. It is good. It is going to the champion’s home. I am a candidate to go to,” he stated throughout an look on Helwani’s present.
UFC president Dana White stated the promotion is considering holding the title struggle in Japan and is contemplating dates for April or Could 2025. If scheduled there, it could be the UFC’s first return to Japan since 2017.
