Fans Outraged After UFC Reporter Mistakes Korean Fighter HyunSung Park for Japanese Opponent Taira Tatsuro originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Mixed martial arts has seen explosive growth across Asia in recent years, with fighters from Japan, South Korea, and China making waves in the UFC. The rise of stars like Zhang Weili, Song Yadong, and Taira Tatsuro has fueled regional interest, making UFC Vegas 108 a must-watch event for Asian fans.
South Korea’s Park HyunSung, an undefeated finisher with a 10-0 record, represents the next generation of talent emerging from the continent. He faces Japan’s Taira Tatsuro, a former Shooto champion, who has become a flyweight contender.
Yet, despite their distinct paths and differing ethnicities, a bizarre mix-up at the UFC media day left Park confused for the same nationality as his opponent in an awkward moment that sparked discussion ahead of their showdown.
Watch the full interview here:
The journalist, who has yet to be identified online, asked Park, “You’re sharing this card with a fellow countryman in Tatsuro. You know, Kai Asakura made his debut in the organization last year. How is the growth of MMA in Japan, and how do you feel being one of the faces of the sport there?”
Park, who speaks Korean, had a translator who intervened and corrected the journalist, saying, “Actually, he’s not Tatsuro, he’s Park.”
The journalist responds, “Yeah, no, he’s sharing the card with Park, or, with-”
“No, he’s Park,” the translator said.
The journalist ended up apologizing profusely and decided not to follow up with their question.
The mixup was misunderstood by the translator, as the journalist was confused about Park’s nationality, rather than whether or not he is Taira. However, he also incorrectly asked Park what it was like coming off his first professional loss, despite him being an undefeated fighter.
Whatever the case may be, his mixing up both of their names at the end of the exchange with the translator was enough to make fans in the comment section sound off:
“Whoever that reporter was, never let him back in.”
“Imagine there’s a guy out there who actually gets paid for not knowing the difference between Japan and Korea. Just shows that you don’t even have to be average to be someone in this world.”
“That reporter first thought Park was coming off a loss – my guy is 10-0 and then proceeded to assume he was Japanese?? So disrespectful. I don’t know if this is just a lack of research or just plain stupidity, but why is UFC letting these reporters take the mic smh”
“I read the comments before he came on, and it was funnier than I expected. I’m Korean and I can’t stop laughing.”
Park, a Road to UFC tournament winner, has finished all three of his Octagon appearances and remains unranked as he has yet to face top-level competition. He will try to shock the world by defeating the no. 6-ranked Taira, who is coming off a loss to Brandon Royval.
“I will smash Taira Tatsuro… I will break him,” he confidently declared in English.
Maybe, if Park’s bold claim comes true, more reporters will get his name and his record right.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.