Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Tatsuro Taira is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Meet Tatsuro Taira, the Japanese “Supernova” lighting up the UFC Flyweight division. Known for his relentless grappling pressure and undefeated streak that carried him deep into the top rankings, Taira represents the new wave of MMA talent emerging from Okinawa. Below, we break down everything you need to know about his personal life, financial status, and career trajectory as of late 2025.
Tatsuro Taira’s Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Tatsuro Taira (平良 達郎) |
| Nickname | Supernova |
| Born | January 27, 2000 |
| Age | 25 |
| Hometown | Naha, Okinawa, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 |
| College | N/A (Focused on MMA post-High School) |
| Religion | N/A |
| Team/Gym | The Palaestra Okinawa |
| Net Worth | $1 Million – $1.5 Million |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Spouse | None |
| @tatsurotaira |
Early Career
Born in Naha, Okinawa, Taira initially played baseball but found his true calling in martial arts during high school. Influenced by his older brother’s kickboxing training, he joined “The Palaestra Okinawa” gym under Ryota Matsune. Taira wasted no time making his mark, dominating the amateur circuit with a perfect 10-0 run.
He turned professional in 2018 with Shooto, where he quickly captured the Shooto Flyweight Championship and the Rookie of the Year honors, building a flawless 10-0 professional record before the UFC came calling in 2022.
Professional Career
Taira entered the UFC as a highly touted prospect and immediately lived up to the hype. He utilized elite grappling to secure wins against Carlos Candelario and CJ Vergara. His breakout moment came in 2024 with a main event victory over Alex Perez via TKO.
Although he suffered his first career setback in a split-decision loss to top contender Brandon Royval in late 2024, Taira bounced back stronger in 2025. He secured a pivotal submission win over fellow prospect Park Hyun-sung in August, cementing his status as a top-5 flyweight. Currently, he is preparing for a massive contender clash against former champion Brandon Moreno in December 2025.
Tatsuro Taira’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Tatsuro Taira’s estimated net worth sits between $1 million and $1.5 million. His earnings have spiked significantly following his transition to main event spots. Beyond fight purses, a major sponsorship deal signed in early 2025 with Japanese telecom giant NTT Docomo has substantially boosted his income. He also earns revenue from his gym affiliation and merchandise, placing him among the higher-earning young talents in the lighter weight classes.
Fight Purses
| Opponent (Event) | Result | Base Purse + Bonus (Est.) | Compliance Pay | Total Payout (Est.) |
| Park Hyun-sung (UFC Fight Night, Aug 2025) | Win | $150,000 + $50,000 (POTN) | $6,000 | $206,000 |
| Brandon Royval (UFC Fight Night, Oct 2024) | Loss | $150,000 (No Win Bonus) | $6,000 | $156,000 |
| Alex Perez (UFC Vegas 93, June 2024) | Win | $100,000 + $100,000 (Win) | $6,000 | $206,000 |
| Carlos Hernandez (UFC Vegas 83, Dec 2023) | Win | $50,000 + $50,000 (Win) | $4,500 | $104,500 |
| Edgar Chairez (UFC 290, July 2023) | Win | $28,000 + $28,000 (Win) | $4,500 | $60,500 |
Endorsements
- NTT Docomo: Signed a major partnership in February 2025, becoming one of the few MMA fighters sponsored by the telecom leader.
- Venum: Official UFC outfitting partner.
- The Blackbelt Japan: Affiliated martial arts brand support.
- Local Okinawa Sponsors: Various local businesses support his training camps in Naha.
Career Records
| Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Date |
| Park Hyun-sung | Win | Submission (Face Crank) | R2 | Aug 2025 |
| Brandon Royval | Loss | Decision (Split) | R5 | Oct 2024 |
| Alex Perez | Win | TKO (Knee Injury) | R2 | June 2024 |
| Carlos Hernandez | Win | TKO (Punches) | R2 | Dec 2023 |
| Edgar Chairez | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | R3 | July 2023 |
| Jesus Aguilar | Win | Submission (Triangle Armbar) | R1 | Feb 2023 |
| CJ Vergara | Win | Submission (Armbar) | R2 | Oct 2022 |
FAQs
1. Who is Tatsuro Taira?
Tatsuro Taira is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist born on January 27, 2000, in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. He competes in the UFC flyweight division and is ranked #5 among flyweights as of August 2025. Known for his fighting nickname “The Best,” Taira has been a professional MMA fighter since 2018 and is the first fighter born in the 2000s to win a UFC main event.
2. What is Tatsuro Taira’s professional MMA record?
Tatsuro Taira holds a professional record of 17 wins and 1 loss (17-1-0). His wins include 5 by knockout, 7 by submission, and 4 by decision. His only professional loss came via split decision to Brandon Royval in October 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas.
3. When did Tatsuro Taira make his UFC debut?
Tatsuro Taira made his UFC debut on May 14, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Rakić, where he defeated Carlos Candelario by unanimous decision over three rounds. He moved to the UFC after an undefeated 10-0 run in the Shooto promotion in Japan.
4. What are Tatsuro Taira’s physical stats and measurements?
Tatsuro Taira is 5’7″ (170 cm) tall and weighs 125 lbs (56.7 kg) in competition. He has a reach of 70 inches (177.8 cm) and fights out of an orthodox stance, though some sources indicate he also fights southpaw. He is currently 25 years old.
5. How many times has Tatsuro Taira won Performance of the Night bonuses?
Tatsuro Taira has won Performance of the Night bonuses at least twice. He received the bonus for his submission victory over Jesús Santos Aguilar via triangle armbar on February 4, 2023, and for his armbar submission over C.J. Vergara on October 15, 2022.
6. Who is Tatsuro Taira’s coach and training team?
Tatsuro Taira trains under the guidance of Ryota Matsune, a veteran MMA coach who trained him from his high school years. Matsune is recognized as one of the best bantamweight competitors to ever come out of Japan. After his first loss to Brandon Royval, Taira also trained with former bantamweight title challengers Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen to improve his striking.
7. What is Tatsuro Taira’s fighting style?
Tatsuro Taira is known for his versatile and well-rounded fighting style that combines excellent grappling with solid striking. His primary strength lies in grappling, particularly his submission expertise, with techniques including rear-naked chokes, triangle chokes, armbars, and face cranks. He was trained in kickboxing at The Palaestra Okinawa, giving him competent striking abilities including punches, kicks, and knee strikes.
8. What happened in Tatsuro Taira’s loss to Brandon Royval?
Tatsuro Taira suffered his first professional loss to Brandon Royval via split decision on October 12, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas. The fight went the full five rounds, with judges scoring it 48-47, 48-47, and 47-48. Royval dominated the striking while Taira controlled the fight with grappling. Round 1 was the deciding factor, with one judge giving it to Taira. The fight was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
9. What is Tatsuro Taira’s most impressive achievement in his UFC career?
One of Tatsuro Taira’s most impressive achievements is his extended undefeated streak in the UFC from his debut in May 2022 until his loss in October 2024—he won six consecutive UFC fights without defeat. Additionally, he holds an 8 first-round finish record in his professional career, demonstrating his explosive finishing ability. He also won the Shooto Flyweight Championship in 2021 before joining the UFC.
10. Who is Tatsuro Taira’s next scheduled opponent?
Tatsuro Taira is scheduled to fight Brandon Moreno on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This will be a main card bout against the former UFC flyweight champion, marking a significant challenge in his career.