Tatsuro Taira was hard on himself after suffering the first loss of his UFC and professional career.

After going unbeaten in his first 16 fights, including a finish over former title challenger Alex Perez, Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)

lost a split decision to Brandon Royval in the UFC Fight Night 244 headliner

last October.

Although he earned his fourth-career UFC bonus, Taira didn’t take the loss too well.

“It was a tough, five-round fight,” Taira told MMA Junkie Radio through an interpreter. “I was only thinking about winning the fight and going next to the title fight. So, I was very shocked, I was depressed, but now I’m just looking forward again, and I’m only looking to get that title shot soon.”

The 25-year-old Japanese fighter will look to rebound when he takes on Amir Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in a UFC Fight Night main event on Aug. 2 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“He’s physically very, very strong,” Taira said of Albazi. “But I think I can imagine myself either getting a submission on the ground or getting a win by knockout.”

Taira isn’t sure about title implications with a win over Albazi but sees the fight as a must-win situation.

“I’m coming off a loss, he’s also coming off a loss, so ranking wise it’s (No.) 5 vs. 3, and we’re both in a jeopardy position, and we both cannot lose this fight,” Taira said. “I won’t necessarily think the next fight will be a title fight, but a big fight for both of us (and) definitely cannot lose.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie:

UFC’s Tatsuro Taira ‘looking forward again’ after shock of first career loss