‘They had terrible aim. They only hit me once’: UFC’s Edgar Chairez recounts harrowing near-death story

Edgar Chairez has survived far worse than any fight inside the octagon. Ahead of his UFC Vegas 118 bout against Bruno Silva on Saturday, the 30-year-old Mexico native opened up about a harrowing near-death experience more than a decade ago when he was shot during an altercation on the streets of Mexicali.

Chairez recounted the incident while trying to break up a street fight involving a friend. "They shot at both of us," he explained to MMA Fighting. "They shot my friend like four times, I only got hit once. They had terrible aim. They only hit me once." He credited his survival to quick reflexes—he ran while the gunmen exhausted their ammunition firing at him repeatedly. Growing up in a tough neighborhood where violence and street crime are endemic, Chairez said such dangers were an unavoidable part of his early life, much like in many countries worldwide.

Despite the hardship, Chairez's childhood was defined by sports, not crime. He dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player and played football obsessively until age 18. "My mindset was always about football," he said. "I throw kicks, but in the face, not on the ball anymore." MMA eventually became his path, and he has compiled a UFC record of 3-2 plus one no-contest. His recent victories came against CJ Vergara and Felipe Bunes, while losses came from Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, both involved in the most recent UFC title fight.

Chairez now faces Silva, a ranked 5-5 UFC veteran holding the No. 15 spot. The fight is scheduled five days before Mexico's opening FIFA World Cup match. Chairez expressed hope for a dominant performance and even joked about earning an invitation to watch a World Cup match live as a member of Mexico's national MMA team. He envisions the fight as a potential "Fight of the Night" candidate, with both fighters known for striking prowess and finishing ability.