Although the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor is no longer on the table for UFC 303, that card isn’t scheduled for another few weekends, and we’ve got a Fight Night with an exciting headliner between flyweight vet Alex Perez and relative newcomer Tatsuro Taira. Let’s get into our Alex Perez-Tatsuro Taira pick, odds and preview as we break down one spot bettors should plan to exploit. Be sure to check out the rest of our UFC articles and our betting model’s top picks!
Alex Perez-Tatsuro Taira Pick, Odds and Preview
Perez-Taira Odds
Odds via DraftKings
Weight Class: Flyweight
Perez: +165 | Taira: -225
Over 2.5: -140 | Under 2.5: +110
Perez-Taira Pick & Preview
This fight is a massive step up in competition for Tatsuro Taira. Taira is a high upside prospect with an undefeated record, but Perez is a former title contender who has fought fighters ranked at the top of the division since 2018.
While I believe in the Taira’s ceiling as a fighter, there are still questions about the 24-year-old that make me think the line is too wide.
To this point, the striking and cardio of Taira are not really tested. With that said, Taira has slowed down when his fights have gotten extended, and we saw him get knocked down in his fight against Edgar Chairez.
At 24, Taira should improve, but I feel confident that Perez has advantages in both the striking and cardio departments.
Where Taira has his biggest advantage is his grappling. He has won two of his five UFC fights by submission, and Perez has two submission losses in the UFC on his record. If the fight gets to the ground, Taira should find a lot of success.
Getting the fight to the ground could be an issue though. Perez has a wrestling background and a sturdy 82% takedown defense.
This makes the fight a fairly favorable matchup for the veteran in Perez at a long odds price.
Best UFC Alex Perez-Tatsuro Taira Bet & Pick: Perez ML +165 at DraftKings
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