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Rebounds in Abu Dhabi
Tavares defeated Antonio Carlos Junior via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC 257 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
In a battle of two fighters coming off knee injuries, Tavares showed off his all-around game to secure the win. His takedown defense was on point the entire night, as he stuffed 11-of-12 attempts from Carlos Junior. Offensively, Tavares was in a pretty good rhythm for a good portion of the bout. He may have very well earned a knockout win in the later stages of Round 2 following a huge shot that floored Carlos Junior, but a follow up strike connected with the groin of the Brazilian and and referee Marc Goddard correctly deemed the shot a foul and gave Carlos Junior time to recover. Tavares has been one of the more underrated middleweights on the UFC roster for years, but he's never been able to get over the hump. He's 5-3 in his past eight fates dating back to May 2015, with those setbacks coming against current UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, former champion Robert Whittaker, and top prospect Edmen Shahbazyan.
In a battle of two fighters coming off knee injuries, Tavares showed off his all-around game to secure the win. His takedown defense was on point the entire night, as he stuffed 11-of-12 attempts from Carlos Junior. Offensively, Tavares was in a pretty good rhythm for a good portion of the bout. He may have very well earned a knockout win in the later stages of Round 2 following a huge shot that floored Carlos Junior, but a follow up strike connected with the groin of the Brazilian and and referee Marc Goddard correctly deemed the shot a foul and gave Carlos Junior time to recover. Tavares has been one of the more underrated middleweights on the UFC roster for years, but he's never been able to get over the hump. He's 5-3 in his past eight fates dating back to May 2015, with those setbacks coming against current UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, former champion Robert Whittaker, and top prospect Edmen Shahbazyan.
Returning at UFC 257
Tavares (knee) will take on Antonio Carlos Junior (knee) in a middleweight bout at UFC 257 on Jan. 23, Raphael Marinho of Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Tavares was slated to face Carlos Junior in March, but he was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. Carlos Junior also underwent surgery on a torn ACL in January, and both fighters will be making their return at UFC 257. Tavares has been defeated in his last two fights, most recently losing to Edmen Shahbazyan via KO (high kick) at UFC 244 in November of 2019. Carlos Junior is also coming off two consecutive losses. He was most recently defeated by Uriah Hall via split decision at UFC Vancouver in September of 2019. Carlos Junior has advantages in both height and reach.
Tavares was slated to face Carlos Junior in March, but he was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. Carlos Junior also underwent surgery on a torn ACL in January, and both fighters will be making their return at UFC 257. Tavares has been defeated in his last two fights, most recently losing to Edmen Shahbazyan via KO (high kick) at UFC 244 in November of 2019. Carlos Junior is also coming off two consecutive losses. He was most recently defeated by Uriah Hall via split decision at UFC Vancouver in September of 2019. Carlos Junior has advantages in both height and reach.
Removed from UFC Brasilia card
Tavares was removed from his scheduled fight at UFC Brasilia with a reported knee injury, MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The 32-year-old was looking to snap a two-fight skid against Antonio Carlos Junior at UFC Brasilia, but he won't be able to appear with an apparent knee injury. The exact nature and severity of the injury is unclear, but Tavares will be forced to miss more time after a selective fight schedule in recent years.
The 32-year-old was looking to snap a two-fight skid against Antonio Carlos Junior at UFC Brasilia, but he won't be able to appear with an apparent knee injury. The exact nature and severity of the injury is unclear, but Tavares will be forced to miss more time after a selective fight schedule in recent years.
Draws Antonio Carlos Junior in Brazil
Tavares (17-6-0) is scheduled to face Antonio Carlos Jr. (10-4-0, 1 NC) in a middleweight fight March 14 at UFC Brasilia, Raphael Marinho of Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Tavares will look to rebound in Brazil after taking his second straight loss in his last trip to the Octagon in November, when he was knocked out by Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC 244 in New York. The 32-year-old has been very selective with his fighting schedule in recent years; the matchup with Carlos Junior represents Tavares' fourth fight since the beginning of 2018.
Tavares will look to rebound in Brazil after taking his second straight loss in his last trip to the Octagon in November, when he was knocked out by Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC 244 in New York. The 32-year-old has been very selective with his fighting schedule in recent years; the matchup with Carlos Junior represents Tavares' fourth fight since the beginning of 2018.
Knocked out at UFC 244
Tavares lost to Edmen Shahbazyan via KO (high kick) at 2:27 of Round 1 at UFC 244 on Saturday in New York City.
ANALYSIS
Tavares is going to be plenty upset with his performance, but Shahbazyan is very clearly the real deal. Unable to avoid any of the massive strikes coming his way, Tavares ate about a half dozen strikes that would have finished off any mere mortal prior to the stoppage. The high kick that ended the fight knocked Tavares out cold before he his the canvas. Referee Todd Anderson was right on the spot, but there was nothing for him to do. Tavares is a talented middleweight, but he rarely fights. Saturday's performance was his first since July 2018 (a unanimous decision loss to current UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya) and if you rarely step into the octagon, you simply cannot afford losing streaks. Tavares' back-to-back losses come on the heels of an impressive four-fight win streak.
Tavares is going to be plenty upset with his performance, but Shahbazyan is very clearly the real deal. Unable to avoid any of the massive strikes coming his way, Tavares ate about a half dozen strikes that would have finished off any mere mortal prior to the stoppage. The high kick that ended the fight knocked Tavares out cold before he his the canvas. Referee Todd Anderson was right on the spot, but there was nothing for him to do. Tavares is a talented middleweight, but he rarely fights. Saturday's performance was his first since July 2018 (a unanimous decision loss to current UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya) and if you rarely step into the octagon, you simply cannot afford losing streaks. Tavares' back-to-back losses come on the heels of an impressive four-fight win streak.