| Brad Tavares | |
|---|---|
 Tavares atUFC 244 inNew York City in November 2019 | |
| Born | Bradley Kaipo Sarbida Tavares[1] (1987-12-21)December 21, 1987 (age 37) Kailua, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
| Division | Middleweight |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm)[2] |
| Fighting out of | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Team | Xtreme Couture |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 30 |
| Wins | 20 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 13 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Other information | |
| Website | bradtavares |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Bradley Kaipo Sarbida Tavares (born December 21, 1987) is an American professionalmixed martial artist. He currently competes in theMiddleweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2007, Tavares fought in local promotions before joining theUFC'sThe Ultimate Fighter 11 in 2010.[3]
Tavares excelled in high school athletics atWaiakea High School competing in football and in track and field. After high school, he worked as a ramp agent for Hawaiian Airlines. He was 19 when he first fought as a professional.[4]
Tavares started his MMA career in 2007 in his home state ofHawaii, compiling a record of 5–0, with three technical knockouts and two submission wins. He originally started training with Universal Combat Sports in Pearl City, Hawaii, where he competed In Got Skills, then fought his first MMA match in Farrington High School in Kalihi where he got a first round KO, there he got approached by MMAD to train there, MMAD (Mixed Martial Arts Development) ran by the likes of Randy Leuder, Brandon Wolff (UFC), and Rob Hesia. He still returns home to Hawaii to train with HQ MMA when not training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.[5]
In March 2010, Tavares was announced as part of theeleventh season ofThe Ultimate Fighter. In the elimination round, Tavares defeatedJordan Smith via KO (knee) after less than a minute. He was selected fifth by Team Liddell and tenth overall.
Tavares then defeated James Hammortree in the second preliminary fight. After two rounds, the fight was declared a draw and the fighters went to a third round. Tavares took control in the third round and was declared the winner, advancing him into the quarter finals.
In the quarter-finals, Tavares foughtSeth Baczynski. As the first round ended, Baczynski threw an illegalsoccer kick to the head of Tavares. Baczynski immediately apologized, knowing he could have seriously hurt Tavares, who went to his corner and slumped. After discussing the matter with the doctors, Herb Dean stopped the fight and Tavares was declared the winner by disqualification, advancing him to the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Tavares faced teammateCourt McGee, for a place in the live final. After a fairly even first two rounds, Tavares was rocked late in the third. McGee then locked in a rear naked choke, handing Tavares his first loss.
AtThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale, Tavares had a rematch withSeth Baczynski.[6] Tavares defeated Baczynski via unanimous decision.
Tavares next faced UFC veteranPhil Baroni on January 1, 2011, atUFC 125.[7] He won the fight via KO in the first round.
Tavares facedAaron Simpson on July 2, 2011, atUFC 132, replacingJason Miller, who was removed from the card.[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Tavares was expected to faceTim Credeur on October 29, 2011, atUFC 137.[9] However, Creduer was forced out of the bout, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Dustin Jacoby.[10] Unfortunately, Tavares was pulled out of the newly made fight due to an injury, setting up a fight between Jacoby and fellow UFC newcomerClifford Starks.[11]
Tavares foughtYang Dongi on May 15, 2012, atUFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier.[12] Tavares won a closely contested fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Tavares next defeated formerBAMMA middleweight champion and UFC newcomerTom Watson via split decision on atUFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic.[13]
Tavares facedRiki Fukuda on March 3, 2013, atUFC on Fuel TV 8 and won via unanimous decision.[14]
Tavares facedRobert McDaniel on August 28, 2013, atUFC Fight Night 27.[15] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Tavares facedLorenz Larkin on January 15, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 35. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Tavares facedYoel Romero atUFC on Fox 11.[16] He lost the fight via unanimous decision, ending his five-fight win streak.
Tavares next facedTim Boetsch on August 16, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 47.[17] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round,[18][19] marking the first time Tavares had been stopped as a professional.
Tavares facedNate Marquardt on January 3, 2015, atUFC 182.[20] He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Tavares facedRobert Whittaker on May 10, 2015, atUFC Fight Night 65.[21] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[22]
Tavares was very briefly linked to a bout withThales Leites on August 6, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 92. However, Tavares was forced out of the fight with a rib injury, and he was replaced byChris Camozzi.[23]
Tavares returned to faceCaio Magalhães on September 10, 2016, atUFC 203.[24] He was awarded a split decision victory.[25]
Tavares was expected to faceHéctor Lombard on January 28, 2017, atUFC on Fox 23.[26] However, the bout was scrapped on January 10 due to undisclosed reasons.[27]
Tavares facedElias Theodorou on July 7, 2017, atThe Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale.[28] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[29]
Tavares facedThales Leites on October 7, 2017, atUFC 216.[30] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[31]
Tavares facedKrzysztof Jotko on April 14, 2018, atUFC on Fox 29.[32] He won the fight via technical knockout in round three.[33]
Tavares facedIsrael Adesanya on July 6, 2018, atThe Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.[34][35] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[36]
Tavares was expected to faceIan Heinisch on October 26, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 162[37] However, Heinisch withdrew from the bout, leading Tavares to replaceKrzysztof Jotko againstEdmen Shahbazyan atUFC 244 on November 2, 2019.[38] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[39]
Tavares was scheduled to faceAntônio Carlos Júnior on March 14, 2020, atUFC Fight Night 170.[40] However, Tavares was forced to pull out of the fight due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.[41] The bout with Antônio Carlos Júnior was rescheduled for on January 24, 2021 atUFC 257.[42] Tavares won the fight via unanimous decision.[43]
Tavares facedOmari Akhmedov on July 10, 2021, atUFC 264.[44] He won the fight via split decision.[45]
Tavares was scheduled to faceBrendan Allen on December 4, 2021, atUFC on ESPN 31.[46] He eventually pulled out in mid November and was replaced byRoman Dolidze.[47]
Tavares next facedDricus du Plessis atUFC 276 on July 2, 2022.[48] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[49]
Tavares was scheduled to faceGregory Rodrigues on January 21, 2023, atUFC 283.[50] However, Tavares withdrawn from the bout due to an injury.[51]
Tavares to facedBruno Silva on April 22, 2023, atUFC Fight Night 222.[52] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[53]
Tavares faced formerUFC Middleweight ChampionChris Weidman atUFC 292 on August 19, 2023.[54] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
Tavares facedGregory Rodrigues on February 10, 2024, atUFC Fight Night 236.[56] In a back-and-forth fight, Tavares ended up losing by technical knockout in the third round.[57]
Tavares was scheduled to faceJun Yong Park on July 20, 2024, atUFC on ESPN 60.[58] However, the bout was scrapped after the weigh-ins when Park was not medically cleared to compete.[59] The bout was rescheduled to take place on October 12, 2024 atUFC Fight Night 244.[60] Tavares lost the fight via split decision.[61]
Tavares is scheduled to faceGerald Meerschaert on April 5, 2025 atUFC on ESPN 65.[62]
| 30 matches | 20 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 5 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 13 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 20–10 | Park Jun-yong | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira | October 12, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 20–9 | Gregory Rodrigues | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer | February 10, 2024 | 3 | 0:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–8 | Chris Weidman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 292 | August 19, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Loss | 19–8 | Bruno Silva | TKO (knee and punch) | UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes | April 22, 2023 | 1 | 3:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–7 | Dricus du Plessis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 276 | July 2, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–6 | Omari Akhmedov | Decision (split) | UFC 264 | July 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–6 | Antônio Carlos Júnior | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 257 | January 24, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 17–6 | Edmen Shahbazyan | KO (head kick) | UFC 244 | November 2, 2019 | 1 | 2:27 | New York City, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 17–5 | Israel Adesanya | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale | July 6, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Krzysztof Jotko | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | April 14, 2018 | 3 | 2:16 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 16–4 | Thales Leites | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 216 | October 7, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | Elias Theodorou | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale | July 7, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–4 | Caio Magalhães | Decision (split) | UFC 203 | September 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Robert Whittaker | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt | May 10, 2015 | 1 | 0:44 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 13–3 | Nate Marquardt | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 182 | January 3, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12–3 | Tim Boetsch | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Saint Preux | August 16, 2014 | 2 | 3:18 | Bangor, Maine, United States | |
| Loss | 12–2 | Yoel Romero | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne | April 19, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 12–1 | Lorenz Larkin | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou | January 15, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Robert McDaniel | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 | August 28, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Riki Fukuda | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann | March 3, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 9–1 | Tom Watson | Decision (split) | UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic | September 29, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Nottingham, England | |
| Win | 8–1 | Yang Dong-yi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier | May 15, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Aaron Simpson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 132 | July 2, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Phil Baroni | KO (knees and punches) | UFC 125 | January 1, 2011 | 1 | 4:20 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Seth Baczynski | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale | June 19, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Jonathan João | TKO (punches) | X-1: Temple of Boom 4 | March 7, 2009 | 1 | N/A | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Joshua Ferreira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | X-1: Temple of Boom 1 | September 27, 2008 | 2 | 2:28 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Devin Kauwe | TKO (punches) | Icon Sport: Hard Times | August 2, 2008 | 1 | 1:52 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | John Ferrel | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Niko Vitale Promotions: Local Pride | April 18, 2008 | 1 | 0:18 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Thomas Sedano | TKO (punches) | MMAC: Conflict: The Beginning | June 29, 2007 | 1 | 0:40 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 4 matches | 3 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 3–1 | Court McGee | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz | Mar 2, 2010 | 3 | 4:48 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter 11 Semi-final round. |
| Win | 3–0 | Seth Baczynski | DQ (illegal knee) | Feb 23, 2010 | 1 | 5:00 | The Ultimate Fighter 11 Quarterfinal round. | ||
| Win | 2–0 | James Hammortree | Decision (unanimous) | Feb 1, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | The Ultimate Fighter 11 Preliminary round. | ||
| Win | 1–0 | Jordan Smith | KO (knee) | Jan 23, 2010 | 1 | 0:45 | The Ultimate Fighter 11 Elimination round. |
