Taira’s Back Control Left Park No Escape From the Face Crank
Tatsuro Taira defeated Hyun Sung Park by submission on August 2, 2025, in the UFC Vegas 108 main event. The flyweight contest at UFC APEX ended at 1:06 of the second round when a face crank forced Park to tap.
A knockdown opened the route to sustained control
Taira established his jab before landing a counter right that forced Park backward. Another right hand sent Park down, allowing Taira to follow and begin imposing his grappling.
Park resisted the positional advances and worked back upright. Standing did not end the danger, however, as Taira maintained contact, climbed onto him and repeatedly pulled the fight back toward the canvas.
The second takedown led directly to the back
Taira changed levels early in the second round and put Park down again. He quickly moved behind his opponent and secured the position before Park could build another escape.
The finishing grip came across the face rather than beneath the chin. The resulting crank nevertheless produced the tap, completing a submission sequence built on controlling the back and denying space.
The rebound followed Taira’s first professional defeat
Taira had entered after losing a split decision to Brandon Royval the previous October. The setback had ended his unbeaten record, making the Las Vegas main event an opportunity to reestablish momentum.
Park arrived unbeaten but could not interrupt Taira’s progression from striking to grappling. The Japanese contender returned to winning form by connecting the phases effectively, turning an early knockdown into sustained positional pressure and then a decisive second-round finish.
Sources
- MMA Weekly: counter rights, repeated returns to the canvas and face crank
- Cageside Press: prior Royval loss and official finishing position
- MMA Fighting: August 2 event date
