Tatsuro Taira explains punting his mouthpiece into T-Mobile Arena crowd after UFC 290 win
LAS VEGAS – Tatsuro Taira beat Edgar Chairez with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Taira, who stayed unbeaten and won for the fourth time in the UFC in just 14 months.
Edgar Chairez vs. Tatsuro Taira
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Result: Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Updated records: Taira (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Chairez (10-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Taira outstruck Chairez 121-26 and had nearly 10 minutes of control time.
Taira on the fight's key moment
“I had a lot of fun – a major event, a lot of fans … I had fun. At points, I couldn’t move the way I wanted. I could definitely hear my coaches, what they were saying, and I really wanted to make that finish, but I couldn’t. I would have to say it was a bit frustrating, and that frustration kind of went to my mouthpiece (when I kicked it). I’m sorry, mouthpiece.”
Taira on his warning for illegal elbows
“The elbow – I know (referee Herb Dean) was trying to tell me something about it. I didn’t realize if he was trying to stop me or was he trying to make me (do it) in a different way. So that was my question to him.”
Taira on what he wants next
“I want (another) step up (in competition). I will be champion. I would love to (fight in Singapore) if there’s an offer.”
To hear more from Taira, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
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