UFC Fight Night: Tim Elliott vs Edgar Chairez Preview & Prediction

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Two flyweights with reliable submission threats face off in the prelims, as veteran Tim Elliott takes on the underrated Mexican Edgar Chairez.

Tim Elliott vs Edgar Chairez facts

What time are Tim Elliott and Edgar Chairez expected to walk out? 12 September 2026 at 9:40 pm

Where is UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado? Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 288

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado main card

Jean Silva vs Jose Delgado (Featherweight)

Brandon Moreno vs Joseph Morales (Flyweight)

Tommy McMillen vs Marwan Rahiki (Featherweight)

Manon Fiorot vs Alexa Grasso (Women's Flyweight)

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Curtis Blaydes (Heavyweight)

David Martinez vs Dan Ige (Bantamweight)

UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado prelims

Tim Elliott vs Edgar Chairez (Flyweight)

Ignacio Bahamondes vs Muslim Salikhov (Welterweight)

Yousri Belgaroui vs Djorden Santos (Middleweight)

Drakkar Klose vs Thomas Gantt (Lightweight)

Rafa Garcia vs Rong Zhu (Lightweight)

Sean King vs Jessie Rosas (Featherweight)

JJ Aldrich vs Regina Tarin (Women's Flyweight)

Tim Elliott: The awkward veteran ties a divisional record on Saturday night

Tim Elliott (21-15-1) makes his 21st UFC flyweight appearance, tying Brandon Moreno’s divisional record, and already owns the division’s most takedowns landed at 63 and total strikes at 1,921. The 39-year-old dropped a competitive decision to Steve Erceg in May, which snapped back-to-back submission wins over Su Mudaerji and Kai Asakura, the latter a guillotine over a man who has since moved up to bantamweight and knocked out both opponents there. Elliott moves erratically, switches stances constantly and remains dangerous off his back with elbows, guillotines and triangles.

Edgar Chairez: “Puro Chicali” rides the division’s third-longest active streak

Edgar Chairez (14-6, 1 NC) arrives on a three-fight UFC winning run, behind only the champion Joshua Van and Manel Kape among active streaks at 125 lbs. The 30-year-old submitted CJ Vergara and Bruno Silva inside a round either side of a split decision over Felipe Bunes, and nine of his fourteen career wins have come by submission. Fighting out of Entram Gym behind clean boxing and calf kicks, Chairez has never been stopped on the feet and holds a five-inch reach advantage here. The question is his gas tank.

Tim Elliott vs Edgar Chairez prediction

Chairez is at his most dangerous in the opening five minutes, and Elliott’s neck is the obvious target. Elliott has been guillotined twice in his career, by Deiveson Figueiredo inside a round in 2019 and by Joseph Benavidez before that, and he can shoot early to his detriment. Against a fresh Chairez holding nine career subs, an early Elliott takedown can seem like a trap.

The calf kicks matter less than they look on paper. Elliott isn’t a stationary target, switching stances constantly and coming in from angles people don’t expect. Chairez’s takedown defence sits at 47% and Joshua Van put him on the mat three times. He has shown almost nothing offensively in the wrestling department either, and when he tires he can shoot badly, which is precisely the sort of entry that hands Elliott the guillotine he used to finish Asakura.

The worry I see is Elliott’s own gas tank. His style burns fuel and at 39 he has begun to fade late. Erceg out-landed him 136 to 90 after a good start. What feels least likely is a KO, Elliott has three in his 37-fight career and Chairez has never been put away by strikes. Two submissions threats at opposite sides of the fight. Chairez would be the one to take at the under 1.5 line, whereas Elliott looks good at the over 1.5 line.

Prediction: Fight to not go the distance