UFC Vegas 93 was not without its share of challenges. Late cancellations and the removal of two separate fights disrupted the initial lineup. However, the main event, headlined by Japan’s rising 24-year-old prospect Tatsuro Taira, managed to salvage the night, impressing fight fans and making a significant leap to top contender status in the UFC’s stacked flyweight division.
The undefeated Japanese flyweight Taira faced off against the battle-tested veteran and Dana White Contender Series alum Alex Perez in a five-round feature bout inside the UFC’s Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC Vegas 93 Main Event: Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira
UFC Vegas 93’s main event featured ranked flyweights No. 5-ranked Alex Perez (25-8-0) and No. 13-ranked undefeated Tatsuro Taira (15-0-0). The bout was scheduled for five rounds if needed. However, Taira did not entertain the idea of going to the judge’s scorecards as the talented grappler took the fight to Perez early on.
The fight opened with both men looking to get their bearings on their feet. They exchanged leg kicks and looked to ease into the striking distance.
One tool that Taira consistently used throughout the fight was his Thai clinch, in which he kept grabbing Perez’s head.
Perez, being the veteran that he is, was able to ward off these efforts and eventually secure his own clinch of Taira against the cage.
The 32-year-old former UFC title challenger began to pick up momentum in the striking game as he landed repeated body shots in the pocket and stayed consistent with heavy leg kicks.
Although Perez seemingly got the better of Taira in the first-round striking exchanges, the biggest shot of the round was a heavy right-uppercut from Taira as he backed Perez to the cage.
With around one minute left in the first round, Taira accidentally poked Perez’s eye while looking to measure the striking distance.
With round one in the books, Perez seemed to be having success with his flurries of punches while in Taira’s threatening Thai clinch.
Come the second round, the same story seemed to be unfolding as the two exchanged hard leg kicks, and Taira proceeded to threaten the clinch. Likewise, Perez continued with his inside punches to the body and head.
Action would come to a halt again as Taira accidentally poked Perez’s eye for a second time. Perez would shake off this poke and quickly resume to fighting.
The two met in the middle and started to engage in strictly a kickboxing match, alternating punches and kicks.
Eventually, Taira realized his most significant advantage in this flyweight matchup was his grappling ability as the 25-year-old phenom secured a slick takedown against the cage.
It did not take long for the elite Japanese grappler Taira as he maneuvered onto the back of Perez, securing a body triangle on the veteran. From there, Taira threatened chokes and face cranks to the flustered Perez.
In the middle of the octagon, Taira used his legs to leverage a takedown on Perez. However, this exact sequence would be the fight’s final one as Perez suffered what seemed to be an ACL injury while being forced down to the octagon mat.
Taira followed up with punches to the hurt Perez, and the veteran was forced to tap due to strikes.
The final result of UFC Vegas 93’s main event was a Tatsuro Taira TKO victory via knee injury.
Taira spoke to the media after his impressive second-round finish over Alex Perez; see what he had to say here via MMA Junkie on YouTube.
Rest of UFC Vegas 93 Results
Main Card:
- (135 lbs.) Miles Johns def Douglas Silva De Andrade via Decision
- (145 lbs.) Lucas Almeida def Timmy Cuamba via Decision
- (125 lbs.) Asu Almabayev def Jose Johnson via Decision
- (135 lbs.) Brady Hiestand def Garrett Armfield via R3 Submission (Rear-naked Choke)
- (170 lbs.) Adam Fugitt def Josh Quinlan via Decision
Prelims:
- (125 lbs.) Nathan Maness def Jimmy Flick via Decision
- (125 lbs.) Gabriella Fernandes def Carli Judice via Decision
- (145 lbs.) Westin Wilson def Jeka Saragih via R1 Submission (Triangle Armbar)
- (145 lbs.) Melquizael Costa def Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via R3 Submission (Face Crank)
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