First-Ever UFC South Korea vs. Japan Match Scheduled... Park Hyun-sung to Face Flyweight #6 Taira

Clash set for August 3rd in Las Vegas, USA as the main event

The first-ever South Korea vs. Japan match in UFC history, featuring Park Hyun-sung and Taira [Provided by UFC. Reproduction and database prohibited]

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Dae-ho = The first-ever South Korea vs. Japan match in UFC history has been suddenly arranged. Park Hyun-sung (29) will face Taira Tatsuro (25, Japan), ranked 6th in the UFC flyweight division.

The UFC office announced on the 29th that Park Hyun-sung will compete against Taira at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on August 3rd (Korean time) in 'UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park Hyun-sung'.

This historic matchup marks the first time Asian fighters will headline an event in UFC's 30-year history, and it is the very first South Korea vs. Japan bout.

Initially, Park Hyun-sung was scheduled to fight Steve Erceg, ranked 10th in the flyweight division, at the same venue on the 10th of next month.

However, after Amir Albazi, Taira's original opponent, suffered an injury, Park Hyun-sung received the offer.

This is the first time a Korean fighter will headline a UFC event since 'The Korean Zombie' Jung Chan-sung's retirement ceremony in 2023, a span of two years.

If Park Hyun-sung defeats Taira, he will instantly climb to 6th in the UFC flyweight rankings.

Park Hyun-sung, aiming to be the first Korean fighter to enter the rankings since Jung Chan-sung, accepted the UFC's proposal after consideration, with only a week left until the fight.

Since he had already traveled to the United States early to adapt to the time difference, he was able to accept the sudden offer.

Park Hyun-sung expressed his thoughts, stating, "Since I've accepted it, I'm only thinking about winning. No other thoughts come to mind."

Park Hyun-sung, a rising star in the UFC flyweight division [Provided by UFC. Reproduction and database prohibited]

Park Hyun-sung signed with the UFC as the winner of the flyweight division in Season 1 of 'Road to UFC,' a gateway for fighters from the Asian region to enter the UFC.

He boasts a professional mixed martial arts record of 10 wins and 0 losses, showcasing a captivating fighting style with 9 consecutive finishes.

Thanks to his two consecutive finishes since joining the UFC, he has exceptionally quickly earned an opportunity to headline an event.

However, Taira is not an easy opponent. He is considered the top flyweight fighter in Asia, renowned for his powerful grappling skills.

He had a 16-fight winning streak until his decision loss to Brandon Royval, ranked #1 in the UFC flyweight division, last October.

Park Hyun-sung assessed Taira, saying, "His grappling is excellent, and his physical attributes are good, making his striking decent as well."

Taira stands at 170 cm, the same height as Park Hyun-sung, but his reach is 178 cm, 10 cm longer than Park Hyun-sung's.

While UFC fights are typically three 5-minute rounds, main events consist of five 5-minute rounds.

This will be Park Hyun-sung's first-ever 5-round fight since his debut.

He commented, "Taira is not a style that I find easy to deal with," adding that it is "a more difficult fight" compared to Erceg.

If Park Hyun-sung wins this fight, he could position himself for a direct title challenge.

He stated, "If I win, it's an opportunity, but if I lose, it's all for nothing. I'm not thinking too deeply; I'm just focused on winning this fight." Yonhap News