Michael Bisping suggests Tatsuro Taira face former champ before UFC title shot
Taira (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) rebounded from his first career loss in a big way Saturday at UFC on ESPN 71 when he submitted short-notice replacement opponent HyunSung Park in the second round at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
After the fight, Taira told Bisping, who was in the commentary booth with Brendan Fitzgerald and Dominick Cruz, that he would like to fight for the belt against the winner of champ Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van.
Bisping, however, thinks Taira needs to further elevate his resume with one more win, and a fight against a former 125-pound champion like Brandon Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-4-2 UFC) would prove his spot.
"He calls for a title fight. I get that, but I was like, 'You've got to have one more fight first,'" Bisping said on the UFC on ESPN 71 broadcast. "I'm not the matchmaker. I don't make those decisions, but that seems logical. It would seem he would have to have one more fight. Who should that fight be against?
"I've got a choice: It is the former champion Brandon Moreno. Tell me you don't want to see that fight? That would show you the level of Tatsuro Taira and also allow Brandon Moreno to get back in the mix – not that he's not in the mix, of course.
Moreno, 31, most recently competed in March when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg at UFC on ESPN 64. The Mexican has intentions of fighting for the belt in his own right, and extending his winning streak to three over Taira, 25, would be a statement for his own career, as well.
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