Brandon Moreno returned to the UFC 323 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to face Japanese contender Tatsuro Taira. Moreno, with a professional record of 23-8-2, is a former UFC flyweight champion and entered the fight ranked No. 5 at 125 pounds. Known as “The Assassin Baby,” Moreno came into the octagon following wins over Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi, aiming to bounce back from split-decision losses to Brandon Royval and reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja. Despite his career length, Moreno remained a serious threat to any top contender.
Tatsuro Taira, 17-1 overall and 7-1 inside the UFC, was coming off a victory over Hyun Sung Park and showcased a mix of sharp grappling and striking. At 24 years old, the young Japanese fighter aimed to prove he could compete with the elite of the division and challenge a former champion like Moreno.
Round 1
Referee Mark Smith started the first round with both fighters cautiously testing each other. Taira opened with several punches, while Moreno maintained his distance, moving well and looking for counters. Taira landed a clean shot, but Moreno scrambled on top and attempted a triangle submission. Taira worked to escape, stacking Moreno and trying to land minor body shots. The round remained largely a stalemate, with both fighters exchanging position without significant damage. In the final moments, Taira landed a few knees, but Moreno’s active submission attempts gave him a slight edge in the first round.
Round 2
The pace increased significantly in the second round. Moreno landed a right hand early, but Taira responded with a sharp uppercut and immediately secured a takedown. Once on top, Taira quickly took Moreno’s back and locked in a body triangle, controlling the former champion effectively. Moreno tried to defend, gripping one of Taira’s arms, but Taira freed it and began unleashing heavy ground-and-pound strikes. Moreno absorbed clean shots while attempting to create space, but after 2:24 of Round 2, the referee stopped the fight via TKO. Moreno appeared frustrated but displayed his trademark toughness and resilience.
Official Result
Tatsuro Taira def. Brandon Moreno via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:24.
After the bout, Taira spoke about the stoppage. Through a Japanese translator, he explained that he believed his strikes were landing effectively and noted that this marked the first time he had finished an opponent with ground-and-pound in his UFC career. He then turned to the audience and UFC officials in English, making his intentions clear: “UFC, please give me the title shot, baby!”
Watch the highlights below:
I’M SO HAPPY THANK YOU‼️@TatsuroTaira finishes Brandon Moreno at #UFC323!! pic.twitter.com/x1OrR1hnM1
— UFC (@ufc) December 7, 2025
YOU KNEW HE’D SAY IT 🗣️@TatsuroTaira | #UFC323 pic.twitter.com/j1RXSInXQl
— UFC (@ufc) December 7, 2025
Do you want to see him fight the belt next?@TatsuroTaira has his eyes on the flyweight title after UFC 323! pic.twitter.com/Zewowu6qc2
— UFC (@ufc) December 7, 2025
