Final night time (Sat., June 15, 2024), Final Preventing Championship (UFC) returned dwelling to UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC Vegas 93. Sadly, the cardboard actually fell aside within the last 36 hours. Two of the most effective fights on the entire card had been cancelled, which left an already skinny card trying downright anemic. Actually, all eyes had been on the Flyweight predominant occasion between Alex Perez and Tatsuro Taira, which was the one combat with an precise impression on its division.
All the identical, let’s have a look again over at UFC Vegas 93’s finest performances and strategies:
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Technical Savagery
Tatsuro Taira may be very clearly the most effective hope for a Japanese UFC champion.
Reverse a sport contender and former title challenger in Alex Perez, Taira confirmed off all of the expertise that makes him particular. He’s not referred to as a kickboxer, however Taira seemed loads sharp on the toes. He did effectively to brush off Perez’s lands, and he rapidly picked up the timing of Perez’s blitz. When Perez surged ahead, Taira met his advance with onerous proper hand and proper uppercut counters, as effectively double-collar tie knees. Between these exchanges, Taira managed distance effectively with the jab and calf kick.
It was aggressive on the toes till Taira opted to wrestle. Nearly instantly, he was on Perez’s again standing. Utilizing the physique triangle, Taira was in a position to journey up Perez’s leg. That’s a standard sufficient technique, however Taira expanded upon it by securing one wrist throughout the physique and leaning backwards, meaning to journey Perez to the ground. It labored, partially as a result of Perez’s knee exploded within the course of!
It was a nasty sequence, one clearly initiated by the Japanese expertise. No one can paint this one as a freak damage — Perez ought to’ve simply fallen over and accepted that the combat was going to the ground, however hindsight is after all 20/20. Both method, Taira will probably be ranked contained in the Prime 10 in only a couple days, and at 24 years of age, he seems to be prepared for the division’s finest.
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Bantamweight Brings The Card Again To Life
Brady Hiestand vs. Garrett Armfield was so significantly better than any combat that got here earlier than it. Even on the worst nights, the Bantamweight division delivers the nice.
Hiestand actually impressed from the primary bell. Straight away, he was mixing all his offense collectively. Routinely, he would present the extent change, hearth a punch, and comply with up with clinch offense. He confirmed a number of attention-grabbing setups off the left hook, following the punch with a left kick or left knee thrown virtually as the identical time. That trickery allowed him to get his wrestling going, and each males almost compelled the opposite to submit when altering positions on the ground.
Armfield bought Hiestand again within the second, nonetheless. Regardless of almost getting choked out to finish the primary and searching downright exhausted, he got here out firing, sticking Hiestand with onerous straight punches. Hiestand was out on his toes then out on the canvas, however he by some means managed to outlive the onslaught. Not solely that, however he bought again into the combat along with his wrestling and returned to scrapping when on his toes.
Every part was up for grabs with 5 minutes remaining, and Hiestand simply refused to be denied. Regardless of apparent exhaustion from each, Hiestand was in a position to push Armfield into the fence, sneak behind him, and land an enormous slam. He jumped on the neck but once more, and this time, there can be no miraculous hand-fighting from the boxer.
An important combat from start-to-finish that raised the shares of each in my eyes.
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A Flyweight First
At 6’ tall, Jose Johnson made UFC historical past because the tallest Flyweight but. Sadly for him, Asu Almabayev was greater than ready. It was a dicey couple minutes for Almabayev as he tried to navigate the vary early on, however a caught kick proved the right takedown alternative.
I doubt many loved watching Almabayev’s grinding wrestling model, however his transitions actually stood out to me. He can chain takedowns collectively very well, and his means to hunt the again throughout scrambles was actually spectacular. Johnson’s dimension and submission sport from backside gave Almabayev some hassle, however he nonetheless managed to take his again and almost choke him out on a number of events.
Now 3-0 within the UFC, Almabayev seems to be prepared for a Prime 10 opponent.
Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures
Further Ideas
Westin Wilson defeats Jeka Saragih by way of first-round triangle-armbar (highlights): This was a enjoyable combat for so long as it lasted! Saragih began quick, aiming at hand Wilson his third-straight knockout losses. Wilson flipped the script with a dedicated wrestling assault, nonetheless, getting Saragih down early. Wilson attacked a triangle, and Saragih tried to slam his method out of the maintain. When that failed, Wilson transitioned to an armbar and compelled the end, doubtless saving his UFC profession within the course of.
Melquizael Costa defeats Shayilan Nuerdanbieke by way of third-round rear bare choke: This was a fairly enjoyable grappling match. Nuerdanbieke was actually insistent on his double leg takedown and did rating some respectable positions, however he exhausted himself making an attempt to overpower Costa. Conversely, Costa was in a position to outlast his opponent with out taking a lot injury, and when given the chance to show the tables, he capitalized with inventive grappling and a fast submission win.
For full UFC Vegas 93: “Perez vs. Taira” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE!
