After an exciting event in Louisville, Ky., in which there was a controversial early stoppage in the main event between Jared Cannonier vs. Nassourdine Imavov (watch highlights). Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns home to its Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend (Sat., June 15, 2024) with UFC Vegas 93. In the main event, Flyweights take center stage as Alex Perez takes on surging prospect, Tatsuro Taira.
UFC Vegas 93 is a very weak card in terms of name value and stakes, but it has several fun and exciting fights. So, before it airs on ESPN+, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits, and statistics ahead of showtime.
The Big 100
UFC Vegas 93 will mark the 100th event to take place inside UFC Apex. The first event (on May 30, 2020) featured Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns. Seven pay-per-view (PPV) events and 92 “Fight Night”-themed shows occurred inside the “intimate” venue.
Here is to the next 100! (Hopefully not).
Rare Headliners
You’ve probably noticed the 125-pound division doesn’t get much love in terms of main event opportunities. Indeed, Perez vs. Taira is the fourth non-title Flyweight main event since 2017. The other three were Mateus Nicolau versus Perez, Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi and Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval.
Making Up For Lost Time
Just days after knocking out Nicolau, Perez was booked to headline his second consecutive main event. It’s awesome to see Perez being so active after an utterly horrible past few years in which he had nine canceled fights since Nov. 2021.
Main Event Noob
Taira will compete in his first main event after five fights with the promotion.
It’s Been Awhile
It has been seven years since UFC Fight Night 117: “Saint Preux vs. Okami,” the last time a Japanese fighter headlined a UFC card (Yushin Okami). Before that, Kyoji Horiguchi was the last Japanese fighter to headline in 2015.
Needless to say, it has been a minute since Japan had a fighter representation … and Taira gets to do just that this weekend.
Massive Step Up
On top of competing in his first UFC main event, Taira has never not been on the “Prelims.” Also, Taira will get a massive step up in competition in Perez — a former title challenger and someone who has only lost to Alexandre Pantoja, Deiveson Figueiredo, Joseph Benavidez, and Muhammad Mokaev.
In other words, Taira will enter the Top 5 Flyweight rankings with a win over Perez.
Skinny Giant
Jose Johnson drops down to Flyweight this weekend after 24 fights at Bantamweight, Featherweight and Lightweight. What is nuts about Johnson dropping down to 125 pounds is that he stands 6’0,” making him the tallest Flyweight in UFC history.
“Lobo Solitario” thinks he can make a run at the Flyweight title with a win. He faces Asu Almabayev.
Must Win
A Welterweight banger between Josh Quinlan vs. Adam Fugitt opens up UFC Vegas 93’s main card, and it has stakes because both of these fighters are on the last fight of their contracts and need a win.
Quinlan started his UFC career with a bang by brutally sleeping Jason Witt, but he was dominated in his next two fights. Fugitt lost his UFC debut against Michael Morales, rebounded against Yusaku Kinoshita, and lost against Mike Mallott.
A violent finish should happen here …
Welcome To UFC!
Two fighters are making their UFC debuts this weekend.
- Carli Judice (3-1) takes on Gabriella Fernandes. Judice is coming off a contract-winning performance on season seven of Contender Series against Ernesta Kareckaite … even though she lost. Judice holds a 100 percent finish rate with three first round finishes.
- Julia Polastri (12-3) takes on Josefine Knutsson. Polastri is also coming off a contract-winning performance on season seven of Contender Series where she finished Patricia Alujas. Polastri holds a 58 percent finish rate with four knockouts.
Small People Only
There are no Heavyweights, Light Heavyweights or Middleweights on this card!
UFC Vegas 93 Fight Leader
The fighter with the most career fights competing at UFC Vegas 93 is Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (50).
UFC Vegas 93 Fight Rookie
The fighter with the least amount of career fights competing at UFC Vegas 93 is Judice (4).
UFC Vegas 93 Knockout King
The fighter with the most amount of career knockouts competing at UFC Vegas 93 is Douglas Silva de Andrade (20).
UFC Vegas 93 Submission Savant
The fighter with the most amount of career submissions competing at UFC Vegas 93 is Westin Wilson (11).
Winners And Losers
Thirteen fighters are coming off wins, while nine are coming off losses.
Multi-Divisions
Here are the divisions that will be on display this Saturday:
- One Welterweight fight
- Three Featherweight fights
- Two Bantamweight fights
- Three Flyweight fights
- One women’s Strawweight fight
- One women’s Flyweight fight
Beta Dog
According to Draftkings, UFC Vegas 93’s “biggest” underdog is Jimmy Flick at +425.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 93 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” card matchups, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance (also on ESPN2/ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 93 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archives here and here. For the updated and finalized “Perez vs. Taira” fight card and ESPN2/ESPN+ lineup click here.