Dana White’s Contender Series alum Edgar Chairez, who was defeated on the show, now gets another shot at the UFC, joining the promotion for this weekend’s UFC 290. The International Fight Week card is headlined by Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez in a title unification bout at featherweight, while a flyweight title fight sees Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja throw down for the third time. As for Chairez, he gets Japanese standout Tatsuro Taira.
Edgar “Pitbull” Chairez
Standing at five-foot-seven
Fighting at 125 lbs (flyweight)
27-years-old
Fighting out of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Training out of Entram Gym
A pro record of 10-4
4 KO/TKOs, 6 Submissions
How will Chairez fare in the UFC:
Chairez fought last season on the Contender Series but came up short. In his defense, he fought a tough Clayton Carpenter and he did take the fight on short notice. He’s won his two fights after that so he’s earned this spot on a big UFC card. He was supposed to fight on the Contender Series this season but was pulled and got this fight due to a pull-out.
Defensively there are some gaps. His biggest weakness is his takedown defense. What helps is he is at least competent off his back. Not perfect but he’s at least always moving working for submissions. He has lost twice to submission so he’s vulnerable when in uncomfortable positions. Chairez has shown a good ability to be able to get back to his feet once he’s taken down however.
Chairez is best when he’s upright. He has good clinch work but is better in space where he fights long well. Chairez throws good straight punches and chopping calf kicks. Even though he’s not technical a lot of times he has good volume. His pace is good but he does slow as the fight goes on and then starts to get hit a little more. Chairez fights in flurries and covers distance well when he’s pressing the action. Nobody that will blow you away with his striking but he has that Mexican brawling style we see win a lot of fights.
Chairez won’t ever be ranked in the UFC but he’s someone that will fight for your money. He’s going to put of a hell of an effort whoever he fights. Chairez is going to be the fighter to test the younger up-and-comers trying to show they’re legit.
How he matches up with Taira:
Chairez gets the unlucky pleasure of debuting against Taira. Of all the fights to get this is probably the worst-case scenario for Chairez. Chairez struggles the most in takedown defense. To struggle in that area against Taira, it’s just plain detrimental. Not so much because the wrestling is good but rather the jiu-jitsu of Taira is high-level. Chairez has been stopped by submission twice before and this will most likely be the third.
