Edgar Chairez

Édgar Cháirez is a 30-year-old Mexican flyweight competing in the UFC with a 13-6 professional record and a reputation as a submission finisher. Born in Baja California and trained since 2016, he dropped out of law school to pursue fighting full-time and spent years grinding through Combate Americas and regional Mexican promotions, eventually winning the Combate Global flyweight championship. He made his UFC debut in July 2023 against Tatsuro Taira, dropping a unanimous decision, followed by a controversial no-contest with Daniel Lacerda caused by premature referee stoppage. Rather than fade, Chairez avenged the Lacerda loss via first-round triangle choke in February 2024 and has since posted a 5-2 record over his last seven outings (one of which was the overturned no-contest).

Chairez fights as a pure grappler with a surgeon's precision on the mat. Eight of his thirteen wins come via submission, and nine of those victories finish in the first round. His toolkit includes armbars, rear-naked chokes, guillotines, triangle chokes, and face cranks. He lacks significant striking volume, absorbing more significant strikes than he lands, but makes up for it through relentless forward pressure and a keen eye for transitions. His game is built on dragging opponents into his world: the clinch and the ground.

In March 2025, he earned a Performance of the Night bonus for a brutal first-round face-crank finish of C.J. Vergara, signaling his rise among UFC flyweights. Most recently, in February 2026, he survived a return from leg injury to edge Felipe Bunes in a split decision, a gritty performance that kept him climbing the 125-pound ladder. His only UFC losses have come against the division's elite (Taira and Joshua Van, the latter of whom is expected to challenge for the title), and he remains on a trajectory toward the rankings. A hometown fixture on Mexican UFC cards, Chairez represents the technical grappling tradition and appeals to fans who prize submission mastery and heart over flashy striking.