The second of three main card flyweight fights at UFC Mexico City on Saturday featured Mexico’s Edgar Chairez alongside Brazil’s Felipe Bunes.
Chairez, 2-2 in the UFC so far, picked up a win over CJ Vergara about eleven months ago; Bunes hoped to shake off a defeat against Rafael Estevam in August.
As the first round started, both men were feeling each other out, trying to find their rhythm and range. Chairez was able to establish the jab early and really played the counter game, having an answer for everything Bunes threw – until Bunes was able to jump over Chairez’s back and find the body triangle while Chairez was still on his feet. Bunes was able to hold this position for most of the round, making landings and raining elbows to Chairez’s shoulders and arms. Bunes finished the first round with the scorecards on his side.
Chairez opened the second round by pressing the action, really mixing it up with his punches up and down with his boxing. He shows nice head movements and finds great success on his feet. In the last 30 seconds of the second round, Bunes began to almost bait Chairez in a “Bring It On” fashion, where he landed an accidental kick to Chairez’s groin shortly after. Before that he had to take a time-out, from which he only needed less than a minute to recover. When they got back to work, Chairez ended the round on a high note, landing a spinning fist followed by a series of shots at the bell.
Bunes entered the third and final round with much more urgency, still signaling to Chairez to take the fight. His gestures seemed to point Holloway down, but not quite to that extent. Bunes managed to hit the snatch single in the first minute of the third round, although he could not hold Chairez for long. Chairez kicked Bunes away and got back to his feet, landing a nice, sharp, spinning elbow. While Chairez was a step ahead offensively, he was also the one who took the most damage.
That said, Chairez really couldn’t miss his jab tonight! He had great success landing it on the body and head. Bunes was far from withdrawing from the fight; By the end of the third, he was still signaling to Chairez to start the fight. And just that: Chairez closed the fight with a spinning back kick followed by a flying knee in the closing seconds of the third round.
A return and fourth fight, very well matched, with Edgar Chairez just one step ahead in this chess match between the two flyweights.
Official result: Edgar Chairez def. Felipe Bunes via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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