Regina Tarin defeated Ernesta Kareckaite by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 268 in Mexico City on February 28, 2026. The bout marked Tarin’s debut in the UFC organization.
Tarin learned of the opportunity to compete against the 27-year-old Lithuanian fighter just days before the event, having previously participated in tryouts for professional wrestling organization WWE. The fight took place in the flyweight division, with a weight class limit of 59 kilograms (approximately 130 pounds).
The contest was a highly competitive one, with the two athletes attempting a combined 529 strikes throughout the three rounds. Kareckaite landed 105 significant strikes out of 249 attempts, while Tarin connected with 114 out of 239. Kareckaite had 127 landed strikes from 279 attempts, compared to Tarin’s 125 landed strikes from 250 attempts. This level of striking activity highlights the intensity and physicality of mixed martial arts competition.
The fight also featured elements of grappling. Both fighters successfully executed one takedown each – Kareckaite with 1 out of 2 attempts, and Tarin with 1 out of 3 – and the control time was similar, with Kareckaite maintaining initiative for 1 minute and 17 seconds, and Tarin for 1 minute and 2 seconds.
Despite the relatively close statistics, the judges saw a clear advantage for Tarin. Two judges scored the fight in her favor across all three rounds (30:27), while one judge awarded the second round to Kareckaite (28:29). Judges’ scoring in MMA can be subjective, but reflects their assessment of effective striking, grappling, and cage control.
The fight between Kareckaite and Tarin was recognized as the “Fight of the Night” by the UFC, and both fighters received a $100,000 bonus for their performance.
This was Kareckaite’s third fight in the UFC, following a loss in her debut and a subsequent win. The outcome brings her record to 6-2-1 in professional MMA competition.
