Tatsuro Taira moved up a few pounds but the outcome remained exactly the same at UFC 290. He beat Mexican newcomer Edgar Cháirez by unanimous decision and remains undefeated.
Taira’s bout with Kleydson Rodrigues last month was cancelled when the Mexican missed weight by 2lbs. But the Japanese fighter was willing to move up to 130lbs to take on Cháirez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
2️⃣3️⃣ years young and ready to go! 😤
🇯🇵@TatsuroTaira is all set for the bright lights! #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/0CRjmiLRuX
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) July 9, 2023
Top control
Taira is known for his grappling and top game but at the start of the fight he scored with a series of hard low kicks. He was doing damage to Cháirez’s left leg but the Mexican responded with a kick that swept him off his feet.
Taira bounced back up only to get dropped by a left hand. He instinctively tried to secure a takedown and Cháirez looked to lock in a guillotine. It gave the Japanese fighter time to recover and he eventually secured top position, moving from half guard to mount while landing elbows and punches.
In the second round Taira secured a takedown and moved into mount. He was landing downward elbows at will but with seconds remaining locked in a guillotine choke only for Cháirez to be saved by the bell.
Cháirez scored with some straight punches at the start of the round. Taira responded with another double leg takedown and laned more punches and elbows from half guard.
Cháirez was able to use the cage wall to work his way up and, as Taira looked to take him down again, he sunk in a guillotine. The Mexican rolled into mount and the submission looked deep but this time it was his opponent who was saved by the bell.
While Cháirez had enjoyed success in the opening round and during the final seconds of the fight it was Taira who controlled the majority of the action. All three judges scored the fight 29-27 in his favour and the Japanese fighter improves to 14-0 while his opponent drops to 10-5.
Weathered the late scare to get the job done! 🙌
🇯🇵@TatsuroTaira is still undefeated after three rounds! #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/FRADYWRo9f
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) July 9, 2023
Best of the rest
Coming soon…
UFC 290, Las Vegas, July 8th
Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via KO (Punches) at 0:38 of R1
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Cháirez via Decision (Unanimous)
Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via TKO (Punches) at 0:20 of R1
Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via Submission (Guillotine choke) at 1:55 of R2
Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio via Submission (Arm-triangle choke) at 3:42 of R3
Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via TKO (Punches) at 3:10 of R1
Jesús Santos Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via KO (Punch) at 0:17 of R1
Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk via Decision (Unanimous)
