Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira will both be in search of a key win when they meet in the flyweight main event of the next UFC Fight Night, set for the Apex Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of 3 August 2025.
Albazi (17-2) comes into the match on the back of a unanimous decision loss to Brandon Moreno in November last year – a first defeat since 2019, and one that set the 31-year-old Iraqi back in his ambition of becoming the flyweight world champion.
Taira (16-1) suffered his first career defeat when he was beaten by Brandon Royval (via split decision) in October last year, and will need an immediate response to keep up his reputation as one of the rising stars in the sport.
“It was a tough, five-round fight," the 25-year-old Japanese said of the defeat. "I was only thinking about winning the fight and going next to the title fight. So, I was very shocked, I was depressed, but now I'm just looking forward again, and I'm only looking to get that title shot soon.”
Taira added, “He's [Albazi] physically very, very strong. But I think I can imagine myself either getting a submission on the ground or getting a win by knockout.
“I'm coming off a loss, he's also coming off a loss, so ranking wise it's [No.] 5 v 3, and we're both in a jeopardy position, and we both cannot lose this fight. I won't necessarily think the next fight will be a title fight, but a big fight for both of us... definitely cannot lose.”
The rest of the main card features a pair of lightweight matches pitting Chris Duncan and Elves Brener against Mateusz Rebecki and Esteban Ribovics respectively; Karol Rosa faces Nora Cornolle in a women’s bantamweight battle; a welterweight clash pits Neil Magny against Elizeu Dos Santos; and Danny Silva takes on Kevin Vallejos in a featherweight fight.
UFC Fight Night: Albazi v Taira – Main card
- Main event: Flyweight: Amir Albazi v Tatsuro Taira
- Lightweight: Chris Duncan v Mateusz Rebecki
- Lightweight: Elves Brener v Esteban Ribovics
- Women’s bantamweight: Karol Rosa v Nora Cornolle
- Welterweight: Neil Magny v Elizeu Dos Santos
- Featherweight: Danny Silva v Kevin Vallejos