Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira squared off in a Flyweight contest earlier tonight (Sat. June 15, 2024) from UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC Vegas 93. Midway through the second round, Taira destroyed his opponent’s knee and won the fight.
At range, both fighters began with calf kicks. Taira was swinging hard with his right hand, whereas Perez was hunting for combinations and targeting the body. Taira also hunted for the double-collar tie, looking for knees up the middle. Perez really wanted to brawl in a chaotic fashion, but that clinch from Taira was stopping him from getting too wild. Taira started to find a home for the uppercut as well, and both athletes were landing hard, as Perez found swings over the top. With short time left in the round, Perez was able to land a takedown, but he wasn’t able to control him for more than a couple seconds.
The main event was highly competitive through five minutes.
Taira looked sharp in the early going of the second, spinning Perez around with a calf kick then finding the mark with his right hand and uppercut. When Perez bit down and threw in combination, however, he tended to score as well. At about the midway point of the round, Taira scored his first takedown of the fight. Perez tried to scramble, but Taira jumped his back in the process!
From the body lock, Taira locked out Perez’s leg. Taira twisted his foe to the floor, and in the process, Perez’s base leg gave out. It’ll take a doctor’s diagnosis to get the specifics, but it’s a safe bet that Perez’s knee has some tears.
This was a major step up in competition for Taira, and the Japanese prospect passed the test with flying colors! For a jiu-jitsu ace, his kickboxing looked quite sharp, and he more than held his own with the hard-hitting Perez. Then, as soon as he opted to change levels and wrestle, he gained a dominant position and quick finish.
What’s next for Tatsuro Taira?
Result: Taira defeats Perez via TKO (injury)
For complete UFC Vegas 93: “Perez vs. Taira” results and play-by-play, click HERE!