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Alex Perez celebrates after his TKO victory over Jose Torres in their flyweight fight during the UFC 227 event inside Staples Center on August 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
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Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira

Diving Into This Weekend’s Return To The UFC APEX From Top To Bottom

The action returns to the UFC APEX this weekend for an event headlined by a critical flyweight matchup between former title challenger Alex Perez and undefeated rising star Tatsuro Taira.

Packed with pairings featuring intriguing young talents and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) graduates, this Saturday’s lineup promises to deliver plenty of excitement as this collection of competitors looks to make their mark inside the Octagon and take another step forward in their respective UFC journeys.

Here’s a closer look at that is on tap on Saturday evening.

Full Fight | Alex Perez vs Matheus Nicolau
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Full Fight | Alex Perez vs Matheus Nicolau
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Main Event: Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira

Location: UFC APEX — Las Vegas, Nevada

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Other Main Card Matches:

  • Timmy Cuamba vs Lucas Almeida
  • Douglas Silva de Andrade vs Miles Johns
  • Asu Almabayev vs Jose Johnson
  • Brady Hiestand vs Garrett Armfield

Prelim Matches:

  • Tagir Ulanbekov vs Joshua Van
  • Jimmy Flick vs Nate Maness
  • Josh Quinlan vs Adam Fugitt
  • Carli Judice vs Gabriella Fernandes
  • Jeka Saragih vs Westin Wilson
  • Josefine Knutsson vs Julia Polastri
  • Melquizael Costa vs Shayilan Nuerdanbieke

Main Event Matchup: Alex Perez vs Tatsuro Taira

Full Fight | Tatsuro Taira vs Carlos Hernandez
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Full Fight | Tatsuro Taira vs Carlos Hernandez
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It’s an established contender against an ascending star in the main event as Alex Perez faces off with Tatsuro Taira.

Perez returned to action for the first time in 20 months in March, landing on the wrong side of the results in a matchup with another rising contender, Muhammad Mokaev. But he bounced back in a major way eight weeks later, knocking out Matheus Nicolau in spectacular fashion to collect his first win since the summer of 2020.

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Taira scored a pair of wins in his UFC rookie year in 2022 to move to 12-0 and followed it up by collecting a trio of victories during his sophomore campaign last year. In his most recent appearance, the unbeaten 24-year-old ran through Carlos Hernandez, finishing the DWCS alum less than a minute into the second round.

This is a classic matchup type, but also a bout that will determine which of these two solidifies their position in the queue of contenders. Will Perez collect his second win of the year, or can Taira take a big step forward in his push towards the top of the division?

Other Main Card Matchups

Timmy Cuamba vs Lucas Almeida

Lucas Almeida of Brazil punches Michael Trizano in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Lucas Almeida of Brazil punches Michael Trizano in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Lightweights Timmy Cuamba and Lucas Almeida face off in what should be an all-action affair in the middle of the main card this weekend.

Cuamba earned a quality win, but not a contract, over Mateo Vogel last season on the Contender Series. After adding another win to his resume, he was tabbed to fill in on short notice in February, dropping a competitive split decision to Bolaji Oki in a fight that snapped his five-fight run of success.

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Almeida followed a similar path to the Octagon, showcasing his skills on Season 5 of the Contender Series, registering a win on the regional scene, and then stepping up on short notice to finish Michael Trizano in his promotional debut. He’s dropped each of his last two against experienced featherweights Pat Sabatini and Andre Fili, and aims to halt that skid here.

Both Cuamba and Almeida are dangerous strikers, with the former having a more technical approach and the latter bringing more aggressiveness to the table. Pairing them off together should produce fireworks this weekend in Las Vegas

Douglas Silva de Andrade vs Miles Johns

Highlight: Miles Johns Scores 3rd-Round Knockout | UFC 265
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Highlight: Miles Johns Scores 3rd-Round Knockout | UFC 265
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Tenured bantamweights Douglas Silva de Andrade and Miles Johns clash here, with each looking to build on strong outings last time out.

The 38-year-old Brazilian has won three of four since returning to the 135-pound ranks, pushing his record to 29-5 with one no contest in the process. In his most recent appearance, “DSDA” claimed a unanimous decision win over Cody Stamann in another competitive clash between divisional mainstays.

Johns arrives unbeaten in his last three and sporting a 4-1 record with one no contest over his last six fights. He’s settled into life back in Missouri training under Trey Ogden at Marathon MMA, and once again profiles as someone to watch in the talent-rich 135-pound weight class.

Will the veteran score another victory and stifle Johns’ ascent or can the DWCS grad grab a third win in four fights and take another step forward?

Asu Almabayev vs Jose Johnson

Asu Almabayev of Kazakstan reacts after his victory against CJ Vergara in a flyweight fight during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Asu Almabayev of Kazakstan reacts after his victory against CJ Vergara in a flyweight fight during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

The first of the main card’s two flyweight bouts features Asu Almabayev stepping in with Jose Johnson.

Winning 13 straight earned Almabayev a call to the Octagon, and over his first two outings in the UFC, he’s registered another two victories to move to 19-2 overall. The 30-year-old from Kazakhstan has strong wrestling and an opportunity to make an impact in the 125-pound weight class if he can carry his strong form through this weekend.

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After landing on the wrong side of things in his promotional debut opposite Da’Mon Blackshear, Johnson rebounded with a strong effort and late-fight finish in his clash with Chad Anheliger in mid-November. A member of the DWCS Class of ’22, the 29-year-old is 4-1 over his last five fights, all against quality competition, and has the chance to add a massive victory in this one on Saturday.

Almabayev has already bested a pair of Dana White’s Contender Series grads and looks to add a third here, while the attacking, dangerous Johnson seeks the biggest victory of his career in what is an important matchup for both athletes this weekend.

Brady Hiestand vs Garrett Armfield

Garrett Armfield punches Toshiomi Kazama of Japan in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on August 26, 2023 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Garrett Armfield punches Toshiomi Kazama of Japan in a bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on August 26, 2023 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Zuffa LLC)

Promising bantamweights Brady Hiestand and Garrett Armfield face off in the main card opener.

Since landing on the wrong side of a split decision verdict in the TUF 29 bantamweight finale, Hiestand has posted back-to-back gritty wins over Fernie Garcia and Batgerel Danaa. In each contest, the Sikjitsu representative has shown his tenacity and resilience, working out of rough spots to emerge victorious.

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Armfield made his UFC debut up a division, losing a rematch to dangerous featherweight prospect David Onama. Back in the 135-pound weight class, the Marathon MMA representative has posted consecutive impressive efforts, stopping Toshiomi Kazama in the first before out-hustling Brad Katona at UFC 297 in Toronto at the start of the year.

Both Hiestand and Armfield have flashed a bunch of upside over their limited UFC appearances, and Saturday lines up as a “which one moves forward right now” matchup between these two up-and-coming talents.

Preliminary Card Matchups

Tagir Ulanbekov vs Joshua Van

Kevin Borjas of Peru defends an ankle lock from Joshua Van of Myanmar in a flyweight fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Kevin Borjas defends an ankle lock from Joshua Van during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Just as the main card wraps in the flyweight ranks, so too do the prelims, as Tagir Ulanbekov squares off with Joshua Van.

The 32-year-old Ulanbekov has won back-to-back outings and four of his five UFC appearances to date, establishing himself as a Top 15 presence in the division. Van makes his fourth trip into the Octagon in the last 12 months, looking to build on his trio of wins and take a major step forward in his young career.

Jimmy Flick vs Nate Maness

Nate Maness Secures The TKO After A R1 Close Call | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Spann
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Nate Maness Secures The TKO After A R1 Close Call | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Spann
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The penultimate bout on the early slate also comes in the 125-pound weight class, with Jimmy Flick and Nate Maness locking horns in a battle of flyweight finishers.

Flick snapped a two-fight skid last time out in Toronto, collecting a second-round submission win over Canadian veteran Malcolm Gordon. Maness has fought a tough slate throughout his UFC run, posting a 4-2 record across two weight classes, and he heads into Saturday’s contest off a first-round submission win over Mateus Mendonca.

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Josh Quinlan vs Adam Fugitt

Josh Quinlan and Adam Fugitt meet on Saturday in what should be an absolute firefight for as long as it lasts.

After lighting up Jason Witt in his promotional debut, Quinlan has landed on the wrong side of the results in each of his last two outings, while Fugitt enters with a similar 1-2 mark inside the Octagon. Combined they’ve earned 14 finishes in their 15 career victories, so expect this one to end with the referee stepping in, not the judges rendering their verdict.

Carli Judice vs Gabriella Fernandes

Newcomer Carli Judice makes her first trip into the Octagon on Saturday, facing off with Brazilian Gabriella Fernandes in this flyweight preliminary card fixture.

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The 25-year-old Judice impressed enough in her split decision loss to Ernesta Kareckaite last season on Dana White’s Contender Series that she earned a contract and a call to the Octagon. After posting seven straight wins on the regional scene, including an LFA title win, Fernandes has stumbled in each of her first two UFC assignments, dropping decisions to Jasmine Jasudavicius and Tereza Bleda.

Jeka Saragih vs Westin Wilson

Jeka Saragih of Indonesia reacts after his knockout victory against Lucas Alexander of Brazil in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Jeka Saragih of Indonesia reacts after his knockout victory against Lucas Alexander of Brazil in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Road to UFC finalist Jeka Saragih looks to build on his knockout win from the end of last year, while Westin Wilson goes in search of his first UFC victory in this featherweight preliminary card pairing.

The first Indonesian fighter in the UFC, Saragih scored one of the bigger upsets of 2023 last November, icing Lucas Alexander in 91 seconds. Wilson has dropped each of his first two outings inside the Octagon, and is sure to be happy to not be facing a Brazilian DWCS graduate this time around.

Josefine Knutsson vs Julia Polastri

Contender Series alums Josefine Knutsson and Julia Polastri clash here in an intriguing strawweight matchup early in the evening.

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Knutsson posted a unanimous decision win over Marnic Mann in her promotional debut last September, elevating her record to 7-0 in the process. After coming up short in her first DWCS appearance, Polastri earned a contract last fall with a second-round stoppage win over Patricia Alujas to move to 12-3 overall.

Melquizael Costa vs Shayilan Nuerdanbieke

Melquizael Costa of Brazil kicks Austin Lingo in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX on July 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Melquizael Costa of Brazil kicks Austin Lingo in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX on July 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Saturday’s festivities begin in the featherweight division with what should be an all-action affair between Melquizael Costa and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.

Costa competed three times last year, sandwiching a win over Austin Lingo between his short-notice debut loss to Thiago Moises and a second-round defeat at the hands of Steve Garcia. After carrying a three-fight winning streak into last year, Nuerdanbieke also fell at the hands of Garcia, starting quickly and fading fast at UFC 287.

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UFC Fight Night: Perez vs Taira took place live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 15, 2024. See the final Prelim and Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass