UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park – Odds & Picks

The main event for UFC Fight Night on Saturday has been rearranged with flyweight contender Tatsuro Taira now set to face undefeated HyunSung Park. Taira was originally scheduled to face Amer Albazi in a five-round main attraction fight, but due to unknown reasons Albazi was forced to withdraw. UFC fights get scrapped and changed all the time but rarely do we see the main event get a new fighter on such notice. The No. 6 ranked flyweight contender, Taira looks to get back in title contention after suffering the first defeat of his career last time out. Taira opened as a big -370 favorite on the UFC betting odds. A total of 11 bouts across eight different divisions make up the fight card that will be televised on ESPN and ESPN+ on August 2 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.

UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park Odds

It’s not easy stepping into a fight a week before the event takes place. However, it’s not much of a stretch for Park, who was scheduled to fight the following week anyway, so jumping in the Octagon a week early shouldn’t cause too much damage. The Road to UFC Season 2 winner was in line to fight former flyweight championship challenger Steve Erceg on Aug. 9. Park was the favorite in each of his last five fights beating Carlos Hernandez via first round submission last time out. With only three UFC fights on his resume and coming into this bout late positioned him as a +281 underdog. There are some heavy UFC betting favorites on the 11-fight card with unbeaten Rafael Estevam the biggest at -550 in his preliminary round flyweight tussle with Felipe Bunes. All six fights on the main card are relatively close on the odds board with the exception of Kevin Vallejos (-400) in his featherweight bout with Danny Silva (+300).

UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park Previews

Flyweight Bout

#6 Tatsuro Taira (-370) vs. NR HyunSung Park (+281)

The path to contending for a title in the stacked division starts on Saturday for both fighters. There’s likely added pressure on Taira, who lost for the first time in 17 professional fights last October to the No. 3 ranked contender Brandon Royval in a competitive match that went the distance. Taira had won his first 16 fights, including six in the UFC, with seven of them by submission. Taira is four years younger than his opponent, has a four inch reach advantage and is statistically superior in every striking and takedown metric. However, he will have to change his game plan on short notice.

This fight is a measuring stick for Park, who enters with a perfect 10 professional record with the last three in the UFC. After going the distance in his pro debut, Park has finished each of his last nine opponents before reaching the judges. A submission specialist, Park can take a punch if it allows him to get the upper hand in a takedown situation. He finished Carlos Hernandez in the first round in his last fight and began his UFC career with a sub win over Seung Guk Choi in 2023. Park is an outstanding grappler and can finish with the best of them making him a formidable foe.

Lightweight Bout

Mateusz Rebecki (-210) vs. Chris Duncan (+168)

The lead into the main event is a lightweight tilt between fighters looking to make a statement within the division. Both Rebecki and Duncan have marvelous professional records but have just five fights each with UFC. An expert at finishing fights, Rebecki showed he can go the distance, outpointing Myktybek Orolbai last time out at UFC 308. It was a nice rebound after losing to Diego Ferreira a year ago, his first UFC setback that also halted a 16-fight win streak. Sixteen of his 20 wins have come by stoppage. Duncan opened as a slight underdog though stats show this could be an even fight. Duncan is a better striker and needs to keep his opponent at bay using his five inch reach advantage. Duncan has also shown a willingness to go to the mat winning his last two fights over Jordan Vucenic and Bolaji Oki via submission.

UFC Fight Night Prime Picks

In the main event I think Park is undervalued taking a short notice fight, but it’s tough to prepare on both sides. The competition level definitely increases for Park and his inexperience inside the Octagon is a factor. Taira showed why he’s one of the top fighters in the division, losing a close battle to Royval last time. Getting back in the win column will certainly help his cause and he isn’t going to allow his opponent to get the upper hand in this one.