Brad Tavares shared a brutal battle with a future UFC Hall of Famer.
Over the course of five exhilarating rounds, the American put it all on the line as he traded blows with one of the greatest strikers the sport has ever seen.
On July 6, 2018, Tavares headlined The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale, at the Pearl Theatre, in Paradise, Nevada, USA.
And while the Hawaiian didn’t win that night, he emerged with a lot of credit.
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Israel Adesanya cut Brad Tavares with a lethal elbow
Going into the contest with Israel Adesanya, Brad Tavares was a massive underdog, with his opponent having dazzled in Glory Kickboxing before putting together a 13-0 record in MMA.
However, despite the hype, the brawler was determined to upset the apple cart.
He started well, landing heavy right hands in the opening two segments that suggested he had a chance to put Adesanya in his place.
However, while the MMA star never stopped trying all night, ultimately the Nigerian-New Zealander was just a little bit too classy.
Adesanya started to land at will, connecting with a monstrous elbow that cut his opponent.
While outclassed, Tavares bit down on his gumshield and survived the bout, in a performance that, while definitely wasn’t good enough to get the win, proved the warrior’s heart beyond doubt.
Brad Tavares fights Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 105
On Saturday night, inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Tavares will return to action against Gerald Meerschaert.
The bout pits two middleweights who really need a win against one another in a battle that is likely to create fireworks.
With both men coming off losses, they know that a victory is their only option, making the contest undeniably intriguing.
