UFC Fight Night: Perez vs. Taira Preview and Predictions By Brett Cagle
Alex Perez (25-8) vs. Tatsuro Taira (15-0)
11-fight UFC veteran Alex Perez takes on undefeated Japanese prospect Tatsuro Taira in this Saturday’s main event. Taira is 24 years old and has shown tremendous promise in his young career. Taira has seven wins by submission on his record and is one of the flyweight division’s best grapplers. In his last performance, Perez bounced back with a knockout win over Matheus Nicolau. Taira enters this contest as a slight betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-195).
On the ground, Perez has been submitted five times previously. Taira will want to take this fight down and utilize his elite grappling. If Perez can keep it standing, he has the power to make this one very interesting.
Prediction: Tatsuro Taira by Submission
Douglas Silva De Andrade (29-5) vs. Miles Johns (14-2)
Bantamweights Douglas Silva De Andrade and Miles Johns battle on the main card. De Andrade is an aggressive striker with twenty wins by knockout on his record. Johns is a well-rounded fighter who won four of his last five fights. Online sportsbooks slightly favor Johns in this matchup (135).
Andrade has the power to knock out any opponent but has struggled with grapplers in the past, like Sain Nurmagomedov and Lerone Murphy. If Johns can find a home for the takedown, I see this fight going the distance.
Prediction: Miles Johns by Decision