Japanese flyweight contender Tatsuro Taira claimed the 16th consecutive win of his unblemished MMA career with a TKO victory over former title challenger Alex Perez at UFC Vegas 93.
Taira’s victory came through slightly unusual circumstances, after Perez sustained a knee injury while being taken down, but Taira’s overall performance showed enough to suggest that he’ll be a major threat to the division’s best.
Taira and Perez traded shots in an energetic opening round that saw both men have their successes on the feet, but it was when the action went to the mat in Round 2 that the fight swung decisively in Taira’s favour.
Taira used Perez’s aggressive striking against him as he took him to the mat and looked to work an opening for a rear-naked choke. Perez stood back up, but still had Taira on his back.
Then Taira leaned back and managed to drag Perez to the mat, but in doing so, Perez sustained a knee injury that left him in agony as they hit the mat. Perez tapped straight away to stop the fight, and Taira picked up the 16th win of his career.
The finish may not have been as decisive as Taira might have hoped for, but it’s an important win nonetheless and puts him in line for a big matchup against one of the top flyweight contenders later this year.
UFC Vegas 93: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Tatsuro Taira def. Alex Perez via TKO (knee injury) – Round 2, 2:59
- Miles Johns def. Douglas Silva de Andrade via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Lucas Almeida def. Timmy Cuamba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-280
- Brady Hiestand def. Garrett Armfield via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:52
- Asu Almabayev def. Jose Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Adam Fugitt def. Josh Quinlan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Nate Maness def. Jimmy Flick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Gabriella Fernandes def. Carli Judice via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Westin Wilson def. Jeka Saragih via submission (triangle armbar) – Round 1, 1:49
- Melquizael Costa def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via submission (face crank) – Round 3, 1:50
- Josefine Knutsson def. Julia Polastri via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
