If he didn’t have to fight him, Tatsuro Tatsuro might be friends with Brandon Moreno – and perhaps they will be anyway.
The two top flyweight contenders square off Dec. 6 at UFC 323 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but fighting isn’t their only overlap.
Taira (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-5-2 UFC) are both under Iridium Sports Agency and have met one another through hanging with the same crowd. But their interests beyond their profession could align, too. Moreno is a Funko fanatic, which Taira thinks could be a good compliment to his own Pokemon enthusiasm.
“My coach seemed to have gotten along well with Brandon through Pokemon cards,” Taira said with a laugh in an interview with MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “He was joking recently that I should light him up by giving him Japanese Pokemon cards at the weigh-in. I would rather throw a monster ball, though.”
Jokes aside, their three-round clash is a massive one. While the promotion has not outright stated the winner will earn a title shot, Taira is reading between the lines. His fight is placed on the same main card as the division’s title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van.
“I was very excited when I heard about this offer,” Taira said. “Very honored and excited to go against the former champ. It’s just another win I need in order to get there. I will take the win and make sure the UFC feels ready and gives me the opportunity to prove that I’m the best. … I take this as the biggest match of my career. I’m also excited to fight at T-Mobile Arena since most of my fights have been at the UFC Apex. … I knew he’d always be at the top, so I did see at some point in my career that I’d be facing him. … I do feel the winner will be the next challenger.”
Taira also said he’d be prepared should something happen to Pantoja (30-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) or Van (15-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC). He’s preparing for Moreno but also for five rounds. If the main event should avoid potential monkey wrenches, Taira thinks it’ll be him and the current champion battling it out sometime in 2026.
“One-hundred percent (Moreno) will be wary of my ground game, so I wouldn’t imagine it will be easy to take him to the ground,” Taira said. “Fight standing up, wait for the moment, and take the sub. … (Then,) Pantoja (wins). He’s got very strong jiu-jitsu. I feel he will finish Van and defend his belt.”
