UFC Vegas 98 featured a five-fight main card that was full of some very competitive fights. In the main event, 24-year-old Japanese flyweight prospect, Tatsuro Taira, suffered the very first defeat of his career when Brandon Royval walked away with a split decision victory. And in the co main event, a tenured veteran in Brad Tavares dropped a competitive fight to Jun Yong Park in another split decision. Some good fights can be scheduled off of this card as many fighters are right in the mix of their respective divisions.
Tatsuro Taira
Tatsuro Taira turned in a great performance but was ultimately edged out in a split decision against Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Vegas 98. Taira’s loss on Saturday was his first loss in MMA as an amateur or pro (Heading into the bout he was 16-0 as a pro, 9-0 as an amateur).
Tatsuro entered the bout ranked at #5 in the UFC’s flyweight division while Royval was ranked at #1.
Tatsuro’s next fight is a little tricky with how many moving parts there are going on at 125lbs. currently. The fight that would make the most sense would be against Steve Erceg. Steve is coming off of two devastating losses. A failed title shot against Alexandre Pantoja and in his most recent fight, a first-round stoppage to Kai Kara France. He’s only 3-2 with the UFC while Taira is 6-1. Erceg is currently ranked at #8 and because both are still very much seen as prospects it’s the ideal fight to make at this point.
Tatsuro’s next fight: Steve Erceg
Brad Tavares
Brad Tavares lost a split decision in his 25th UFC fight to Jun Yong Park in the co main event of UFC Vegas 98. Tavares definitely had his moments during the fight but ultimately was not able to secure the victory. Tavares has now lost two in a row and has just won one fight out his last five.
A good next opponent for Taveres would be Albert Duraev. Albert is a 2021 Contender Series product that has since gone 2-2 with the UFC. Duraev’s last fight was in July of last year when he was finished by Jun Yong Park via second round rear naked choke. Albert was slated to fight in February against Robert Bryczek but had to withdraw because of visa issues. With a common last opponent and the guys Duraev has already faced (Joaquin Buckley, Roman Kopylov), drawing Tavares could make sense.
Brad’s next fight: Albert Duraev
Jared Gooden
Jared Gooden was outclassed everywhere in his three-round unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Chidi Njokuani. Jared’s time in the clinch against the cage would spell his doom during the fight as he was unable to match the output of his opponent. Gooden is now 1-2 since being resigned to the UFC in March of last year.
To make matters worse for Gooden, he missed weight ahead of his bout with Njokuani. This is the second time Gooden has missed weight in his three fight, second stint, with the UFC. (It’s his third time missing weight with the UFC in total.)
Gooden’s next fight in the UFC should be against Kevin Jousset. Kevin just lost to Bryan Battle last month when he was TKO’d in the second round. (In front of a home crowd too.) He’s now 2-1 with the UFC. Gooden and Jousset were actually scheduled to fight on May 11th, but Gooden withdrew due to a medical issue.
Jared’s next fight: Kevin Jousset
Rafa Garcia
Rafa Garcia was able to get little going in his second round TKO defeat to Grant Dawson on Saturday night. The loss snapped a two-fight winning streak over Maheshate Hayisaer and Clay Guida. Although Garcia was coming back from a long layoff after a devastating knee injury, the loss is a sizable set back.
Rafa Garcia should fight Elves Brener in his next fight. Elves is 3-2 in the UFC and is on a two-fight losing streak having lost to Myktybek Orolbai and most recently, Joel Alvarez, back in August. His two performance bonuses while with the UFC indicate that he is a dangerous striker and it would be a good matchup for Garcia coming off of the grappling heavy, Grant Dawson.
Rafa’s next fight: Elves Brener
Alex Morono
Alex Morono gave up a clear first round lead and ultimately lost a split decision to Daniel Rodriguez to begin the UFC Vegas 98 main card. Undoubtedly, a tough-to-stomach loss for Morono, as the veteran has now lost his last two fights and three of his last four.
Morono has fought so many guys in the weight class, a good fresh fight to give him would be the winner of Mike Mallot vs. Trevin Giles. That fight is going down on November 2nd. Giles lost his most recent fight, and Mallot has lost his last two. Either fight would make sense as Morono was extremely close to winning his bout on Saturday.
Alex’s next fight: Mike Mallott vs. Trevin Giles winner
