vs
-205 +210
UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023 · Middleweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley Next Fight
Age 38
Height 6' 1"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 41
Height 6' 2"
Reach 78.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Brad Tavares
3.41 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
3.32 SApM
54.0% Str. Def.
0.7 TD Avg
26.0% TD Acc.
80.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Chris Weidman
3.11 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
3.37 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
3.27 TD Avg
42.0% TD Acc.
72.0% TD Def.
0.8 Sub. Avg
Brad Tavares
Moneyline
DraftKings -205
KO/TKO
FanDuel +155
Submission
FanDuel +2200
Decision
FanDuel +220
Chris Weidman
Moneyline
BetWay +210
KO/TKO
BetRivers +750
Submission
BetRivers +1300
Decision
BetMGM +500
Brad Tavares - Fight History
UFC Fight Night 281 · Jul 18, 2026
LOSS vs Eryk Anders
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brad Tavares 1 48 of 86 55% 55 of 95 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:29
Eryk Anders 0 35 of 84 41% 68 of 133 3 of 9 33% 0 1 9:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brad Tavares 0 18 of 35 51% 18 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 20 of 41 48% 33 of 56 0 of 4 0% 0 0 3:10
2 Brad Tavares 1 18 of 31 58% 21 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Eryk Anders 0 11 of 31 35% 22 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 1 2:25
3 Brad Tavares 0 12 of 20 60% 16 of 26 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 4 of 12 33% 13 of 25 3 of 4 75% 0 0 3:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brad Tavares 48 of 86 55% 29 of 64 17 of 20 2 of 2 31 of 59 14 of 21 3 of 6
Eryk Anders 35 of 84 41% 26 of 69 9 of 15 0 of 0 15 of 47 19 of 36 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brad Tavares 18 of 35 51% 7 of 23 10 of 11 1 of 1 6 of 18 12 of 17 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 20 of 41 48% 17 of 34 3 of 7 0 of 0 4 of 14 16 of 27 0 of 0
2 Brad Tavares 18 of 31 58% 11 of 22 6 of 8 1 of 1 13 of 21 2 of 4 3 of 6
Eryk Anders 11 of 31 35% 6 of 24 5 of 7 0 of 0 7 of 21 3 of 9 1 of 1
3 Brad Tavares 12 of 20 60% 11 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 12 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 4 of 12 33% 3 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo picks Brad Tavares but with very low confidence, calling it too close to bet. He notes both fighters have declining chins and the fight could be a quick knockout or a sloppy decision. He thinks Tavares is more well-rounded and faster, but Eryk Anders could bull his way forward. He ultimately goes with Tavares due to technical edge.

"I'm gonna go with Brad because he's the more well-rounded of the two and he should be faster."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady hesitantly picks Eryk Anders by split decision, calling it a '1-800 Gambler fight.' He thinks both fighters are washed but gives Anders the edge due to slightly harder punching and ability to control against the cage. He predicts a low-quality fight and even considered predicting a draw.

"Give me Eric Anders by greasy greasy greasy split decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Cody picks Tavares, citing his experience, takedown defense, and ability to outpoint Anders. He notes Anders' declining durability and retirement announcement. He expects a close decision but Tavares edges it.

"Brad Tavvar's win. Hopefully, he just finishes the job."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Connor does not make a clear pick for this fight, calling it a toss-up and meaningless. He criticizes both fighters as old and irrelevant, suggesting the fight should not be happening in the UFC. He does not express a preference.

"Yeah, that's fair. It's, it's a toss up really. It's just a, this is, this is not a fight that should be happening. It's utterly, utterly meaningless."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

James picks Eryk Anders as an underdog, citing his grappling advantage and power. He notes that both fighters have fading durability and that Anders is more explosive. He calls the fight volatile and says no result would shock him.

"I will pick Eric Anders for the sake of the show."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The host picks Tavares to win by decision, citing his superior striking and takedown defense. He believes Anders will struggle to land a knockout and that Tavares's combinations and effective damage will win rounds. He notes that both fighters are aging but Tavares is the better striker and should outwork Anders over 15 minutes.

Anders by knockout hedge
"I have to give the edge to Dvarez. I believe he's the better striker and I don't think Anders can muster up the knockout power to put Dvaris away here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Paul has no clear pick, expressing uncertainty about both fighters. He notes Tavares' recent losses and Anders' inconsistency. He doesn't want to bet either side.

"I don't know what to do with this fight, Cody."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Brad Tavares

The Guru picks Brad Tavares, emphasizing his low kicks as the key difference. He notes Anders has a wide stance and has struggled with low kicks before, and that Tavares has fought higher-level competition. He predicts a decision win, 30-27, as he doesn't see Anders finishing Tavares early.

"I'm going to go with Brad Tavares here. I think the low kicks are going to be the difference... by decision, 30-27."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Brad Tavares

Zane picks Brad Tavares, noting that Tavares looked decent in his fight against GM3 but struggled against Robert Brishik, who pushed a pace. He believes Anders is also slow and throws single strikes, giving Tavares enough space to look like his old self. However, he acknowledges Tavares tends to lose a round due to passivity.

Tavares opened at -185, currently -138; Anders opened at +160, currently +118
"I am going to pick Brad Tavares. I'm going to pick Eric Anders. Sure. Uh, Brad, Brad Tavares looked like there might actually be a little classic Brad Tavares tread left on the tires for that GM three fight."
LOSS vs Robert Bryczek
KO R3 1:43 · UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · Sep 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brad Tavares 0 42 of 102 41% 50 of 111 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:22
Robert Bryczek 1 68 of 138 49% 77 of 149 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brad Tavares 0 17 of 40 42% 25 of 49 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:22
Robert Bryczek 1 39 of 73 53% 48 of 84 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:16
2 Brad Tavares 0 15 of 40 37% 15 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Robert Bryczek 0 9 of 28 32% 9 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
3 Brad Tavares 0 10 of 22 45% 10 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Robert Bryczek 0 20 of 37 54% 20 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brad Tavares 42 of 102 41% 17 of 69 8 of 13 17 of 20 41 of 100 1 of 2 0 of 0
Robert Bryczek 68 of 138 49% 47 of 104 16 of 27 5 of 7 43 of 101 9 of 16 16 of 21
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brad Tavares 17 of 40 42% 12 of 34 3 of 3 2 of 3 16 of 39 1 of 1 0 of 0
Robert Bryczek 39 of 73 53% 26 of 56 11 of 15 2 of 2 22 of 46 9 of 14 8 of 13
2 Brad Tavares 15 of 40 37% 3 of 23 3 of 6 9 of 11 15 of 39 0 of 1 0 of 0
Robert Bryczek 9 of 28 32% 4 of 17 3 of 7 2 of 4 9 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Brad Tavares 10 of 22 45% 2 of 12 2 of 4 6 of 6 10 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Robert Bryczek 20 of 37 54% 17 of 31 2 of 5 1 of 1 12 of 27 0 of 2 8 of 8
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Robert Bryczek vs. Brad Tavares
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-220); Bryczek (+190)

Round 1
Longtime veteran Tavares (21-10, 16-10 UFC) had his most recent contract come to an end, and after a brief time of uncertainty he was brought back to the promotion he joined by winning the 11th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” While he has faced many of the best fighters in the history of the middleweight division, he draws a Polish adversary in Bryczek (17-6, 0-1 UFC) that may be a bit less decorated but is just as dangerous given his stoppage rate above 70%. Referee Lukasz Bosacki draws the charge to handle the 185ers, who clap hands to initiate the match.
Bryczek puts his foot on the gas, chasing the longtime vet around, and he finds himself in the pocket with Tavares. This results in them both trading, and Tavares backs off and takes a body shot and a jab up top. Tavares replies with a pushing front kick, and he catches Bryczek ducking down with a pair of punches on the temple. Tavares stays on his back foot, firing off kicks as Bryczek advances towards him. Bryczek continues marching ever forward, with Tavares more than ready to counter, his right hand ready for action. Bryczek smacks the front leg of his foe with a kick, and puts his guard up to block a one-two that he expects. Bryczek swings for the fences and knocks Tavares clean off his feet. Tavares works his way up with the wall, but Bryczek is swarming him with fists to the dome and guts. Tavares ties him up to clear the cobwebs, and Bryczek settles for a few knees to the thigh before breaking off.
Tavares circles away, letting fly kicks and a pair of punches up high, and the Polish athlete is incensed and ready for destruction. He lays into Tavares with punches in bunches, dropping Tavares to a knee as he tries to put his man away. Tavares is able to get back up despite being under fire, and he even manages some looping counters. When Bryczek overcommits on his attack, Tavares times a magnificent double-leg takedown to put the heavy-handed Polish fighter on his back. The nose of the Hawaiian is busted open and leaking on the mat, but he pays it no mind as he climbs into half guard and recovers. Tavares does some work on top but is largely content to control the remainder of the round and take a possible 10-8 score off the table—although that remains to be seen if judges believe the damage was substantial enough to award such a score. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Bryczek
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Bryczek
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Bryczek

Round 2
The second round kicks off with a barrage of kicks from the Hawaiian, using them to keep distance and prevent Bryczek from hurling big hands at him. The low kicks are starting to mark up the lead leg of Bryczek, who is lumbering awkwardly on it as he advances. Tavares is the quicker of the two, as Bryczek may have punched himself out in the first round, because Bryczek cannot reach him. As Bryczek plods towards his man, Tavares shoots in on his hips. Bryczek knows it is coming and defends it, and he stands up and avoids a right hand zooming at his jaw.
Bryczek bears down on Tavares, replying with his own chopping kicks as he makes his way forward. Tavares lets fly a three-punch salvo that hits nothing but air, but his technical kickboxing is stifling Bryczek for the most part. Tavares backs himself to the wall and quickly realizes he needs to reposition himself, scurrying to the side as he spams the leg kick. Bryczek no-sells a head kick as he goes after Tavares, but his offense is otherwise fairly muted. The fans do not like this pick-and-poke strategy of low intensity, perhaps spoiled by the action of the previous bouts as well as this one’s first round, and they start booing heartily. A storied veteran with a lot of decisions on his ledger, the audience has no effect on the Hawaiian. He keeps his distance and probes with kicks and one-twos until the not-so-great round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Tavares

Round 3
The middleweights touch ‘em up to show some respect opening the final frame, and Bryczek gets back to his forward-or-bust strategy. Tavares welcomes this, as he is able to simultaneously hop on his bike and land enough strikes to gain the upper hand. The Hawaiian puts some mustard into a body kick, and Bryczek does not like it and twirls around to take some of the sting out of it. When Bryczek gathers his thoughts, he marches Tavares down and guns for him with big, swinging fists. Tavares’ are straighter, jabbing and getting off one-twos. With a full head of steam, Bryczek attacks. Backing Tavares up to the fence, Bryczek strings together a prolonged combination of looping punches, cracking Tavares with a heavy right hand.
Stunned, Tavares starts to go down to a knee while still under fire, and Bryczek continues battering the grizzled veteran with all he has. With Bryczek hammering away with hammerfists as some land directly on the back of the head, Bosacki steps in, and Tavares immediately protests the stoppage.
His team is equally upset about what they feel was premature referee intervention, but as the referee is the sole arbiter of the bout, that’s a wrap. Bryczek notches his first UFC victory and it is a huge scalp he collects by melting a formerly ranked fighter in Tavares.

The Official Result
Robert Bryczek def. Brad Tavares R3 1:43 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo leans towards Brad Tavares based on experience and toughness, but is surprised Tavares is nearly a 3-to-1 favorite given his age and decline. He acknowledges Bryczek's clean boxing and power, and notes that a one-punch knockout or decision win for Bryczek wouldn't surprise him. He advises against betting Tavares at these odds, warning that Bryczek is not a bum.

"I'm gonna lean Tvarez. I'm gonna lean on his experience. I'm gonna lean on his toughness."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Big Brady is hesitant but picks Brad Tavares, as he wants to fade Tavares but cannot trust Bryczek after his poor performance. He notes Tavares has looked done since taking heavy damage, but Bryczek looked even worse, gassing quickly. He expects a decision win for Tavares.

Tavares by decision
"Although I'm very hesitant in picking Brad Dvarez, I don't want to pick him, but I'm kind of getting forced to pick Brad Dvaris here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Sep 4, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The host expects a classic performance from Tavares but notes his deteriorating durability and decline. He acknowledges Bryczek could spoil plans with a big shot, but thinks Tavares keeps it clean and outpoints Bryczek to a decision victory.

"I'm expecting Tavvarz to give us a bit of a classic performance here, but his deteriorating durability and his just decline is evident and Bert could definitely spoil his plans here by landing a big shot of his own."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The Guru picks Brad Tavares, dismissing Robert Bryczek as 'terrible' and 'dog [__]'. He criticizes Bryczek's debut performance and regional record, while noting Tavares has been competitive against proven UFC fighters. He expects a standup fight and predicts a 29-28 split decision for Tavares, citing his experience and well-roundedness.

"I think Tvarez is more well-rounded and more experienced. He knows what to do to win certain rounds. I'm going to go Tvarez by decision."
Decision (unanimous) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Emmett vs. Murphy · Apr 05, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brad Tavares 0 47 of 109 43% 56 of 118 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Gerald Meerschaert 0 38 of 83 45% 51 of 97 0 of 8 0% 0 0 4:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brad Tavares 0 13 of 36 36% 14 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Gerald Meerschaert 0 8 of 24 33% 8 of 24 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:26
2 Brad Tavares 0 26 of 51 50% 26 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Gerald Meerschaert 0 23 of 44 52% 23 of 45 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:47
3 Brad Tavares 0 8 of 22 36% 16 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Gerald Meerschaert 0 7 of 15 46% 20 of 28 0 of 5 0% 0 0 3:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brad Tavares 47 of 109 43% 29 of 85 12 of 18 6 of 6 45 of 105 2 of 4 0 of 0
Gerald Meerschaert 38 of 83 45% 27 of 66 7 of 10 4 of 7 36 of 79 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brad Tavares 13 of 36 36% 10 of 30 2 of 5 1 of 1 13 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
Gerald Meerschaert 8 of 24 33% 5 of 19 0 of 1 3 of 4 8 of 23 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Brad Tavares 26 of 51 50% 15 of 38 7 of 9 4 of 4 24 of 48 2 of 3 0 of 0
Gerald Meerschaert 23 of 44 52% 18 of 35 4 of 6 1 of 3 21 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Brad Tavares 8 of 22 36% 4 of 17 3 of 4 1 of 1 8 of 21 0 of 1 0 of 0
Gerald Meerschaert 7 of 15 46% 4 of 12 3 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 14 0 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Brad Tavares
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-258), Meerschaert (+210)

Round 1
As the main card carries on, the few hundred fans in the building will be treated to a fascinating clash of styles pitting the UFC middleweight decision leader against the division’s all-time top finisher. Tavares (20-10, 15-10 UFC) prefers to stand, while Meerschaert (37-18, 12-10 UFC) is hunting for his 30th submission—and Tavares has never before been submitted. Something might have to give before all is said and done here. Referee Mike Beltran draws the assignment, ready to step in at a moment’s notice. The grizzled veterans show respect for one another with a glove touch, and Tavares pops out his jab. Meerschaert surges forward, pulling back before letting go with anything. Tavares prepares for a counter when Meerschaert comes at him, dinging the grappler with a hard left hand. Meerschaert zooms forward, looking for a double and ending up pushing the Hawaiian against the fencing. When Tavares breaks free, Meerschaert goes after him and plants a left hand on the chin. He ducks down to try this strike again, and this time it lands cleaner. Tavares backs him off with a crisp boxing combo, and Meerschaert shoots in for a double but is totally shut down. Tavares misses a right hand by a matter of inches, but the body kick that follows does land. Tavares puts his fist on Meerschaert’s chin, and he dips in with a shovel uppercut that brushes past the jaw. The two crash together, and Tavares rings his foe’s bell with an elbow, giving chase with a left hand and a body kick. Meerschaert fakes a level change to buzz by his foe, and he pitches out a couple calf kicks. Tavares advances, is intercepted and still snaps out a jab. Meerschaert kicks him in the lead leg again, and he leans back and gets drilled with a long two-punch string right down the middle. Tavares clips Meerschaert a second time with a right hand, and “GM3” catches a kick and zips a kick back at his adversary’s head. Tavares comes up short with a spinning back fist, and the horn blares.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares

Round 2
Fists are bumped to start off the second round, and Tavares gets right behind a double jab. Tavares plunks Meerschaert with a right hand and has a high kick buzz past his hair. Tavares plants a heavy leg kick that strips the legs out beneath the grappler, and Beltran allows him to stand up as Tavares does not want to hit the ground with him. Meerschaert blitzes forward, landing at the end of a pair of combinations and backing off from front kicks. He then charges again, scoring twice with a solid lefts before mashing Tavares against the cage. “GM3” slashes with an elbow on the break, and he sneaks in a left hand as Tavares clutches his jaw awkwardly. Tavares overswings, and Meerschaert ducks down to level change. Tavares stonewalls him, boots him in the face and then slams a leg kick home. Two heavy punches from the Hawaiian get through, and Meerschaert answers him with two doubled lefts. He tries this double-left attack two more times, and Tavares sees it coming and circles off. Meerschaert connects with a powerful uppercut to push Tavares back, and he hammers Tavares with a body kick after they split up. Meerschaert sells out for a single that comes up way short of succeeding, and Tavares backs him away with a front kick and a blistering uppercut. Meerschaert shells up to defend a body kick, and the front kick that follows gets through. Tavares skirts away from looping punches, and they clash legs when kicking at the same moment. Tavares slips in a one-two, gets his head snapped back and still lands. Meerschaert throws back harder, and he gets Tavares’ attention just a moment. Body kicks fly from both men, and Tavares winds up with a right hand that staggers the grappler. “GM3” shakes out the cobwebs and scores as left hand down the middle. The bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares

Round 3
Fists are bumped, and fighters engage right after it with clubbing punches. Meerschaert darts in for a takedown, and he runs directly into a body kick. Tavares hops back and in with a jab, and he runs forward and is tripped. Meerschaert lets him back up so he can target the body a few times, and Tavares kicks him in the guts and has to defend a takedown. Meerschaert nearly gets him down, Tavares pulls a finger off the wall and bounces off well enough to stay upright. Meerschaert clings to his side, fishing his legs in for a trip. Beltran asks for more activity as “GM3” hangs on from partial back control standing, and he kicks out Tavares’ other foot for a second of instability. He kicks the same foot again, and Tavares has to rejigger himself to not get tripped up. Meerschaert keeps attacking the feet when not trying to use his body weight to wrench Tavares down, and the Hawaiian is able to defend well enough as precious seconds tick off the clock. Beltran needs something more from the fighters, and Meerschaert exerts himself but is not able to get it down. Tavares puts his back to the fence, and his takedown defense is enough to stifle the Kill Cliff FC fighter’s every effort. Beltran breaks them apart with 70 seconds left, and Meerschaert practically runs towards his opponent flailing his fists, Tavares is more composed with straight strikes, and he has his kick parried and he rolls with a punch. Meerschaert lunges at him with two left hands to then go after a single, and Tavares breaks free with 15 seconds to go. Meerschaert runs forward, lets fly a body kick, and he slings three unsuccessful head kicks to conclude the lackluster pairing.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)

The Official Result
Brad Tavares def. Gerald Meerschaert via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo notes Brad Tavares has fought everyone and has solid striking and 80% takedown defense, while Gerald Meerschaert is a good grappler but sucks on the feet and gets hit a lot. He warns that taking Meerschaert down is dangerous, but Tavares has the fight IQ to avoid that. Angelo picks Tavares but thinks the odds are high for a guy with only one win in three years, and suggests a 'win inside the distance' prop might be a sharp play.

win inside the distance decision no action might be a Mir sharp play here
"Brad tovares is going to be the pick this actually could be an entertaining fight though."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Big Brady picks the underdog Gerald Meerschaert, citing Brad Tavares's decline after the Dricus du Plessis fight and poor recent performances. He believes Meerschaert has underrated striking and a huge grappling advantage, and expects him to submit Tavares in the second round.

second round submission
"give me Gerald mirart Gerald mirart second round submission"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He emphasizes that Tavares is a neutralizer who no longer believes in his own power and doesn't follow up on damage. Connor notes that Meerschaert has become craftier on the feet and that Tavares's defensive shell will be his downfall. He calls the matchup terrible matchmaking but sees Meerschaert as the logical winner.

"I'm fine with it. Okay. Okay. Yeah."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Tavares is clearly diminishing at 1-4 in his last five fights. Meerschaert can push a pace and get the grappling going in the first and second rounds, leading to a classic Meerschaert submission in round two or three.

submission in round 2 or 3
"I think mirart can push a pace and really get the grappling going in the first and second round eventually leading to a classic mirart submission either in round one or sorry in round two or round three."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The Guru picks Brad Tavares, emphasizing his takedown defense and ability to keep the fight standing. He thinks Meerschaert's body kicks and takedown attempts will be slow and predictable, and Tavares will be snappier on the feet. He expects a decision win for Tavares, though notes Meerschaert comes alive in the third round.

Brad Tavares by decision
"I am going to lean towards Brad Savvarez here. And I'm going to take him to win this fight by decision as the fight goes on."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Zane picks Meerschaert, arguing that Brad Tavares is 'cooked' and no longer dangerous. He notes Tavares's lack of motivation, tendency to shell up when hurt, and inability to finish fights. Zane points out that Meerschaert has improved his boxing and reach usage, and has a win over Bruno Silva who knocked out Tavares. He believes Meerschaert's willingness to win and Tavares's decline make Meerschaert the clear pick.

Tavares opened -257, now -202; Meerschaert opened +206, now +191. Zane finds the line weird given Tavares's recent losses.
"You still got to pick Mirchardt, right? Yeah, you have to pick me a shirt. I can't pick Brad Tavares against anyone anymore."
LOSS vs JunYong Park
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira · Oct 12, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
JunYong Park 0 65 of 149 43% 73 of 159 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:42
Brad Tavares 0 99 of 177 55% 124 of 210 2 of 6 33% 0 0 6:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 JunYong Park 0 26 of 57 45% 27 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:42
Brad Tavares 0 19 of 46 41% 21 of 48 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:18
2 JunYong Park 0 31 of 80 38% 31 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 0 67 of 108 62% 68 of 109 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:35
3 JunYong Park 0 8 of 12 66% 15 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 0 13 of 23 56% 35 of 53 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
JunYong Park 65 of 149 43% 55 of 136 2 of 3 8 of 10 62 of 143 0 of 1 3 of 5
Brad Tavares 99 of 177 55% 76 of 151 4 of 6 19 of 20 91 of 167 3 of 5 5 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 JunYong Park 26 of 57 45% 21 of 52 0 of 0 5 of 5 23 of 52 0 of 0 3 of 5
Brad Tavares 19 of 46 41% 12 of 37 2 of 3 5 of 6 19 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 JunYong Park 31 of 80 38% 27 of 73 2 of 3 2 of 4 31 of 79 0 of 1 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 67 of 108 62% 52 of 93 1 of 1 14 of 14 64 of 103 3 of 5 0 of 0
3 JunYong Park 8 of 12 66% 7 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1 8 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 13 of 23 56% 12 of 21 1 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 18 0 of 0 5 of 5
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo picks Brad Tavares, citing his experience and takedown defense. He notes that Park Jun-yong is not dangerous enough to finish Tavares, lacking one-punch power and nasty takedowns. Angelo believes Tavares will defend takedowns and land clean strikes for a straightforward win.

"I think Brad tarus wins this fight... pretty straightforward win here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Big Brady picks Park Jun-yong by decision. He thinks the fight will be close and go to the judges, but he cannot pick Brad Tavares due to his decline. Tavares has taken a lot of damage and looked poor in recent fights, including a lackluster win over Chris Weidman. Park was on a five-fight win streak before a close loss to Andre Muniz. Brady expects the fight to stay on the feet and Park to do better work, though it could be a close decision.

Park by decision
"I'm sticking with my pick here it's it's Park I do think this fight is going to be close though"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Connor also picks Park but is hesitant, noting that Tavares still has great takedown defense and can strike. He points out that Park's best path is through grappling, but Tavares stuffs takedowns. Connor thinks Park can win a striking battle because Tavares doesn't throw combinations and is passive, but it's a risky fight for Park.

Same odds commentary.
"I trust him to win that scrap. Like I say he sets traps. He will work a low kick and work a jab until his opponent starts to provide openings."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Daniel highlights Park's well-rounded skills, pace, and wrestling ability, noting that he was close to knocking out RoboCop. He criticizes Tavares's recent decline, pointing out that RoboCop walked through him with zero respect. Daniel believes Park's physicality and durability will be key, and he predicts a knockout victory, citing that Park has been overdue for his first UFC KO.

by KO
"I think he's going to and I think he might even do it by knockout... I'm gonna go Jun Young Park the Iron Turtle to come out here and knockout Brad Tavares in Vegas."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 11, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Brad Tavares

Tavares is on a rough run but this is a winnable matchup if he keeps it in the striking realm. Park has decent power but not enough to catch Tavares. Tavares will land better strikes, leg kicks, stop takedowns, and win on the scorecards over 15 minutes.

"I think we'll see Tavares land the better strikes land some good leg kicks stop the takedowns and land the better shots over the course of 15 minutes winning this fight on the scorecards"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 8, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares, noting that Tavares cannot be taken down and has good cardio. He criticizes Park Jun-yong's striking and believes Tavares will out-strike him for a TKO or decision. He acknowledges Tavares has been KO'd recently but sees Park lacking the power to finish him.

TKO or decision
"I'm gonna say Brad tarez I don't see yunong Park having the power to put him away by TKO... I'm going to go with Brad tarez getting this one done by TKO on the feet or a decision"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 10, 2024 (2 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Zane picks Park but is hesitant because Tavares has excellent takedown defense, which neutralizes Park's best weapon. He notes that Park's striking is crafty but he is short and gets hit often, and Tavares is a durable defensive striker who doesn't leave many openings. Zane trusts Park to win a kickboxing match due to his volume and trap-setting, but acknowledges it's a tough fight.

Tavares opened at +147, now +159; Park opened at -166, now -180. Zane thinks the line could be wider.
"I think in that weird way is kickboxing is best served when his opponent is not a comfortable striker at all. And otherwise the highlight of his game tends to be his wrestling game."
TKO (punches) R3 0:55 · UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer · Feb 10, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gregory Rodrigues 0 37 of 84 44% 42 of 90 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 0 71 of 123 57% 79 of 135 2 of 6 33% 0 0 3:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gregory Rodrigues 0 14 of 30 46% 19 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 0 25 of 49 51% 29 of 55 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:56
2 Gregory Rodrigues 0 18 of 39 46% 18 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 0 22 of 40 55% 26 of 46 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:22
3 Gregory Rodrigues 0 5 of 15 33% 5 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 0 24 of 34 70% 24 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gregory Rodrigues 37 of 84 44% 28 of 70 4 of 9 5 of 5 36 of 83 1 of 1 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 71 of 123 57% 53 of 102 8 of 9 10 of 12 64 of 114 7 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gregory Rodrigues 14 of 30 46% 10 of 24 1 of 3 3 of 3 14 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 25 of 49 51% 19 of 41 4 of 5 2 of 3 20 of 43 5 of 6 0 of 0
2 Gregory Rodrigues 18 of 39 46% 14 of 32 2 of 5 2 of 2 17 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 22 of 40 55% 13 of 30 3 of 3 6 of 7 20 of 37 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 Gregory Rodrigues 5 of 15 33% 4 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 24 of 34 70% 21 of 31 1 of 1 2 of 2 24 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Angelo describes Gregory Rodrigues as a powerful striker with a BJJ black belt and good takedown defense, and notes he is a threat everywhere. Brad Tavares is tough and experienced but not dangerous, with only two finishes in 15 UFC wins. Angelo believes Rodrigues' forward pressure and power will win the fight, likely by decision due to Tavares' durability.

"Gregory Rodriguez is going to win this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Big Brady picks Gregory Rodrigues to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Rodrigues has power and durability issues, but Tavares has no finishing ability and is getting older. He expects Rodrigues to march forward and land a big shot, knocking out Tavares. He mentions that Tavares couldn't finish 41-year-old Matt Wyman, which was a terrible look.

second round knockout
"give me Rodriguez here I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockdown"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Cody picks Rodrigues, noting Tavares lacks power and has not knocked anyone out in years. He thinks Rodrigues' size and pressure will be too much, and that Tavares' low volume and lack of finishing ability play into Rodrigues' hands. Cody expects a decision win for Rodrigues, possibly 29-28 or 30-27.

"Rodriguez is the pick for me"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Tavares has a striking advantage and solid takedown defense. He should be able to control the fight with leg kicks and counter striking. Rodrigues may strike himself exhausted trying to finish. Tavares' durability is a non-issue, and his losses are to top-tier competition. At +195, this is a no-brainer spot for the veteran to win by decision.

"I'm going to lean with Tavaris here the veteran experience the Striking Advantage hopefully his durability holds up which I believe again is a nonissue and at plus 195 no brainer spot here give me the veteran brat tarz to …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

Paul agrees, calling Tavares a gatekeeper who doesn't pose many threats. He notes Tavares' lack of knockout power and that Rodrigues is huge for the weight class. Paul thinks Rodrigues' grappling and pressure will be decisive, and that Tavares' takedown defense may not hold up. He expects a clear decision for Rodrigues.

"I'm GNA have to agree as well Brad tarz is very serviceable like you said but uh he's he's a gatekeeper"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Gregory Rodrigues

The MMA Guru picks Gregory Rodrigues with high confidence, criticizing Brad Tavares for not finishing a compromised Chris Weidman. He believes Tavares is not high-level and lacks punch power. He expects Rodrigues to find a TKO win on the feet, as he does not think Tavares can put him away.

TKO win
"I'm going to go Gregory Rodriguez no doubt in my mind about this either... I'm gonna side with Gregory Rodriguez finding some kind of TKO win over Brad Tavarez on the feet."
WIN vs Chris Weidman
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brad Tavares 0 37 of 92 40% 39 of 94 0 of 8 0% 0 0 1:21
Chris Weidman 0 70 of 115 60% 71 of 116 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brad Tavares 0 7 of 20 35% 7 of 20 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:12
Chris Weidman 0 16 of 29 55% 16 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Brad Tavares 0 20 of 41 48% 22 of 43 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:54
Chris Weidman 0 27 of 44 61% 28 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Brad Tavares 0 10 of 31 32% 10 of 31 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:15
Chris Weidman 0 27 of 42 64% 27 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brad Tavares 37 of 92 40% 30 of 77 5 of 12 2 of 3 35 of 90 2 of 2 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 70 of 115 60% 21 of 61 8 of 9 41 of 45 68 of 113 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brad Tavares 7 of 20 35% 5 of 17 1 of 2 1 of 1 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 16 of 29 55% 8 of 21 0 of 0 8 of 8 16 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Brad Tavares 20 of 41 48% 16 of 32 3 of 8 1 of 1 18 of 39 2 of 2 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 27 of 44 61% 8 of 23 5 of 5 14 of 16 25 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Brad Tavares 10 of 31 32% 9 of 28 1 of 2 0 of 1 10 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 27 of 42 64% 5 of 17 3 of 4 19 of 21 27 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Aug 13, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo picks Brad Tavares despite believing Chris Weidman is the better fighter everywhere. He cites Weidman's two-year layoff, age (39), and horrific leg injury as major unknowns. He thinks Tavares will be a step ahead and faster, but admits he could be wrong and hopes Weidman wins. He advises against betting this fight due to the uncertainty.

"I still think that line is wide... Brad Tavares is going to win this fight... save your money just watch this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Big Brady picks Brad Tavares to win by third-round knockout, calling it his hot take. He believes Weidman's takedown attempts will be stuffed by Tavares' elite takedown defense, wearing on Weidman's gas tank. Brady notes Weidman hasn't impressed since 2017 and has been knocked out in all six losses, while Tavares is tough and has never been knocked out.

win by KO, round 3
"my hot take for the week is actually think uh Brad Tavares knocks out Chris Weidman... third round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Cody argues that Tavares is a gatekeeper with no knockout power and all his wins are by decision against lower-level opponents. Weidman, despite the leg break and layoff, has a wrestling advantage and could control Tavares. He thinks the line is too favorable to Tavares and likes Weidman as a value underdog, likely by decision.

over 1.5 rounds at -200; fight time over 11 minutes; Weidman by decision
"I will take that plus money on Chris Weidman but Whiteman on the PRP don't be a coward"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Daniel Levi confidently picks Brad Tavares, arguing that Weidman has been washed up since pre-pandemic and has declined significantly since USADA testing. He notes that Weidman has been knocked out in six of his last eight fights and gasses after round one. Levi praises Tavares' takedown defense and balance, and believes Tavares will stuff takedowns, get Weidman to a fatigue state, and either out-volume or knock him out. He is waiting for a better price but is comfortable with Tavares.

Waiting for minus 250 or better; Tavares by knockout or decision
"I think Brad's close to the end but I think Chris is past the end... I'm gonna go Brad Tavares"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Brad Tavares

Lucrative James confidently picks Brad Tavares, citing Chris Weidman's horrific leg injury, age (39), and being washed before the injury. He believes Tavares will finish Weidman, as Weidman has been finished in six of his last seven fights. He sees no value on the underdog here.

"I think Tavares is going to go out there and finish him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Weidman has a clear path to victory via grappling. Tavares is not a knockout threat and has been taken down by wrestlers before. Weidman's durability has held up recently, and at +220 the line is too wide. He should be able to grind out a decision or possibly find a submission.

"I'm going to take a shot on the All-American for him to go out there and get his hand raised by a decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Chris Weidman. He cites Weidman's long layoff after a leg break and doubts his KO ability. He praises Tavares' takedown defense and durability, noting he hung in with Dricus du Plessis. He expects Tavares to outpoint Weidman on the feet, possibly winning by TKO in rounds 2-3 or a 30-27 decision.

TKO in round 2 or 3, or decision 30-27
"I'm gonna have to go with Brad Tavarez over Weidman"
LOSS vs Bruno Silva
TKO (knee and punch) R1 3:35 · UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes · Apr 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Bruno Silva 0 15 of 64 23% 15 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 1 23 of 51 45% 24 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Bruno Silva 0 15 of 64 23% 15 of 65 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brad Tavares 1 23 of 51 45% 24 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Bruno Silva 15 of 64 23% 11 of 56 4 of 8 0 of 0 15 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 23 of 51 45% 17 of 40 5 of 9 1 of 2 21 of 48 1 of 2 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Bruno Silva 15 of 64 23% 11 of 56 4 of 8 0 of 0 15 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brad Tavares 23 of 51 45% 17 of 40 5 of 9 1 of 2 21 of 48 1 of 2 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Bruno Silva vs. Brad Tavares
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-155), Silva (+135)

Round 1
A banger at 185 pounds is on deck for the co-headliner of this Fight Night, as Tavares (19-7, 14-7 UFC) looks to hold the middleweight line against the lead-fisted Silva (22-8, 3-2 UFC). One of these two fighters will get back in the win column here and potentially push their way back into the top 15, and they will have 15 minutes at max to do so. Referee Mark Smith has donned his hard hat, and the two fighters bump fists in front of his eyes. Tavares doubles up on the jab after the bump, and Silva springs out of the way. Silva walks forward and ducks a big punch, and he misses the mark with his own heavy left hook. Silva lets go with a leg kick, and Tavares intercepts him with a powerful body kick. Tavares times a right and a left, with the left landing behind the ear and getting Silva’s attention. Tavares boots Silva upside the head, and Silva blocks most of it and throws back with a vengeance. A long jab from Tavares makes Silva stumble, but Silva gathers his bearings and knocks Tavares back with a right hand. The Hawaiian releases a kick to the ribs, a one-two and a front kick in rapid succession, and Silva attempts to tie him up and knee him in the face. The two middleweights throw from their hips, and they reset to exchange from a distance. Silva leans down to guard a body kick, and he counters a reaching Tavares with an uppercut. They trade single, long punches, and Tavares lets fly a high kick. Silva sneaks a right hand over the top to rock Tavares, and the Hawaiian wobbles back but is still very much in the fight. Silva trades back when Tavares engages with him, and Silva stings Tavares with a short combination.
“Blindado” uncoils a powerful knee and a blindingly fast right hand that gets around the guard, and Tavares collapses to his back. Smith halts the fight when Tavares goes down, and Tavares immediately complains that he was not knocked out and was still in the fight.
Regardless of the feelings of the stoppage, the result is what it is, and Silva has turned things around to record a very important knockout. Silva reminds the division of the power in his fists with this victory, and he may have claimed a spot in the top 15 at the expense of ranked Chris Curtis.

The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Brad Tavares R1 3:35 via TKO (Knee and Punch)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Apr 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Angelo picks Bruno Silva despite his recent loss, attributing it to a bad night. He believes in Silva's raw talent, power, and BJJ, and thinks he can beat Brad Tavares who is well-rounded but not exceptional at anything. He acknowledges the risk and advises others to do their own research, noting that if you think Silva is broken, then pick Tavares. He is not betting on this fight.

No bet on this fight.
"I'm still gonna ride with Bruno here... Bruno Silva's gonna be the pick I'm not touching it with bets."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Big Brady picks Bruno Silva as a dog to knock out Brad Tavares in the first round. He is hesitant because Silva looked awful in his last fight, appearing sluggish and drunk, but if the 'sober' Silva shows up, he has the power to knock out Tavares, who has been knocked out multiple times. Brady is scared by Silva's last performance and won't put a ton of money on him, but he still picks Silva to win early.

first round knockout
"I'm going to take Bruno Silva here as a dog I'm gonna say he does knock out Brad Tavares ... I'll say first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Cody picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, criticizing Brad Tavares as one-dimensional and not exceptional. He notes Tavares fades in later rounds and allows opponents to outwork him, as seen against Dricus du Plessis. Cody believes Silva has power and can land damaging strikes, possibly getting a knockout or winning a decision. He mentions Silva went 15 minutes with Alex Pereira and landed heavy shots.

"this is a dog or pass fight so I'll actually take the underdog in a second straight one Bruno uh it's no disrespect to Brad Tavares just him favorite versus anybody I'm not particularly interested"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Connor picks Tavares, arguing that Silva is one-dimensional and falls apart when his wild hooks are neutralized. He notes that Tavares is a solid defensive wrestler and technical striker, and that Silva's inefficiency will cause him to gas. However, he acknowledges that Silva hits hard and could catch Tavares if he gets into a lull, but overall Tavares should grind out a win.

"I guess I'll pick Brad, but I do have a feeling that like these dudes are just going to continue having more and more chances at hurting Brad."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Brad Tavares has good striking defense and durability, as shown against Dricus du Plessis where he was not knocked down. He can mix in takedowns to avoid Bruno Silva's power. Silva is knockout-reliant and has poor takedown defense; he tends to get outstruck by technical strikers. Tavares should be able to outwork Silva over three rounds, using combinations and leg/body kicks. Silva may slow down, allowing Tavares to increase output and win a decision.

Tavares by decision
"Brad Tavares does great in terms of throwing combinations ending with leg kicks or body kicks and I think he has a good enough overall game... I'm going to say Brad Tavares by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Apr 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody that Brad Tavares is not someone he likes as a favorite. He sees a path for Silva to win by decision or knockout, noting Tavares' durability may be fading. However, Paul admits he is not actually betting this fight, calling it a pass for betting purposes.

"plus 130 not a fight that I'm actually gonna bet but for this purposes of this show uh Bruno Silva will be my pick as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Apr 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Bruno Silva. He notes Silva's loss to GM3 and damage from Pereira, while Tavares has a granite chin and good grappling. He thinks Tavares can use his takedowns and technical striking to win. He is not fully confident but leans toward Tavares.

"I'm gonna go with Brad Tavares over Bruno Silva here Bruno Silva lost to gm3... I'm gonna side with Tavares he's got a granite chin so I don't see Bruno Silva finishing him"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Apr 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Zane picks Tavares but is hesitant, noting that Tavares is fundamentally solid but hasn't evolved and often lulls in fights. He worries that Silva's power and awkwardness could catch Tavares, similar to how Dricus du Plessis did. However, he thinks Silva is too messy and inefficient, and that Tavares's defensive wrestling and jab should carry him to a decision win.

"I'll pick Brad Tavares along with you because Bruno Silva really does... seem like he fits the absolute bill of the kind of fighter that gets into the UFC, gets a couple of really good, shocking wins while people don't …"
Chris Weidman - Fight History
LOSS vs Eryk Anders
TKO (punches) R2 4:51 · UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura · Dec 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 1 16 of 36 44% 27 of 50 0 of 1 0% 1 0 2:15
Chris Weidman 0 62 of 102 60% 121 of 193 0 of 6 0% 0 0 4:24
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 1 13 of 26 50% 20 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:10
Chris Weidman 0 11 of 23 47% 12 of 29 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:41
2 Eryk Anders 0 3 of 10 30% 7 of 14 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:05
Chris Weidman 0 51 of 79 64% 109 of 164 0 of 2 0% 0 0 3:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 16 of 36 44% 11 of 30 5 of 6 0 of 0 12 of 23 0 of 2 4 of 11
Chris Weidman 62 of 102 60% 56 of 96 6 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 25 7 of 12 48 of 65
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 13 of 26 50% 8 of 20 5 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 13 0 of 2 4 of 11
Chris Weidman 11 of 23 47% 8 of 20 3 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 10 7 of 12 1 of 1
2 Eryk Anders 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 51 of 79 64% 48 of 76 3 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 15 0 of 0 47 of 64
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Nov 30, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo flips his pick from Chris Weidman to Eryk Anders. He cites Weidman's age (40), potential frustration from not getting paid after the canceled fight, and the loss of the Madison Square Garden atmosphere. He believes Anders' physicality, power, and aggression will overwhelm Weidman, who has a questionable chin. Angelo acknowledges the fight is at 195 lbs, which may favor Anders.

"I am going to go Eric Anders here I flip my pick"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Cody picks Weidman, citing his wrestling advantage and experience. He notes Anders' inconsistency and recent losses. He expects a close decision win for Weidman, possibly by outworking Anders.

Weidman by decision
"Widman by decision... I'm in agreement."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Eryk Anders

Connor is very confident in Anders, stating he will never pick Chris Weidman to win again. He notes that Weidman is washed and that his recent win over Bruno Silva was against a shot fighter. Connor points out that Anders has been slowly improving technically over the years, while Weidman has not shown any improvement and is only getting older. He believes Anders' athleticism and steady development will be too much for Weidman.

Connor explicitly says: 'I'm telling you if you have money to spare and you like to bet, bet a little on eric anders.' He also notes the odds are near even, with Anders at -101.
"I don't care what happened in this last fight I don't care what the official result is i'm never picking chris wide men to win a fight again."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Daniel picks Weidman, noting Anders' tendency to choke in big fights and his recent knockdowns. He expects a clinch-heavy fight and believes Weidman's grappling will be the difference. He mentions he previously bet Weidman at better odds.

"I'm still going to go with Widman. I'm not going to change my pick."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Chris Weidman

This is a tough matchup to predict given both fighters are further along in their careers. However, Weidman showed impressive activity and comfort in the striking realm against Bruno Silva earlier this year. He will utilize that to mix in his clinch grappling and striking to win on the scorecards.

"I was impressed with wiman's activity and comfort in the Striking R against Bruno Silva earlier this year and I expect him to utilize that here to mix in his clinch grappling and striking game alt together to win this …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Paul picks Weidman, noting his superior wrestling and fight IQ. He criticizes Anders' cardio and durability, and thinks Weidman can grind out a decision. He acknowledges Weidman's age but believes he has enough left.

"I think Weidman... it's Weidman for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

The MMA Guru picks Weidman, noting the fight is at a catchweight which benefits the older Weidman. He thinks Weidman's wrestling and game plan will be too much for Anders, who he considers a B-level middleweight. He predicts Weidman out-wrestles Anders and wins by decision 30-27.

"I'm going with widman I think he's good I think weidman's good in general"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Eryk Anders

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Anders confidently. He notes that Weidman is completely washed and that Anders has been getting better year after year, albeit slowly. Zane points out that Weidman's only recent win was against a similarly shot Bruno Silva, and that his other recent fights have been close against aging opponents. He believes Anders' athleticism and improved technique will be enough to beat Weidman.

"We're both picking eric anders that's all we did not pick chris wide man."
WIN vs Bruno Silva
Technical Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 2:18 · UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot · Mar 30, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Weidman 1 75 of 111 67% 88 of 129 1 of 4 25% 0 0 3:15
Bruno Silva 0 30 of 88 34% 30 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Weidman 0 20 of 30 66% 32 of 46 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:09
Bruno Silva 0 4 of 8 50% 4 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Chris Weidman 0 45 of 64 70% 45 of 64 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Bruno Silva 0 19 of 63 30% 19 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Chris Weidman 1 10 of 17 58% 11 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Bruno Silva 0 7 of 17 41% 7 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Weidman 75 of 111 67% 44 of 74 14 of 19 17 of 18 56 of 88 5 of 7 14 of 16
Bruno Silva 30 of 88 34% 28 of 81 2 of 4 0 of 3 29 of 86 1 of 1 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Weidman 20 of 30 66% 9 of 16 2 of 4 9 of 10 6 of 13 5 of 7 9 of 10
Bruno Silva 4 of 8 50% 3 of 6 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Chris Weidman 45 of 64 70% 25 of 42 12 of 14 8 of 8 45 of 64 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bruno Silva 19 of 63 30% 18 of 59 1 of 1 0 of 3 18 of 61 1 of 1 0 of 1
3 Chris Weidman 10 of 17 58% 10 of 16 0 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 11 0 of 0 5 of 6
Bruno Silva 7 of 17 41% 7 of 16 0 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Bruno Silva vs. Chris Weidman
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-285), Weidman (+230)

Round 1
The feature fight of “UFC Atlantic City” features former middleweight champ Weidman, fighting near his Long Island home turf and looking to reverse the fortunes that have seen him go 2-7 since his title loss to Luke Rockhold eight years ago. His foe, Silva, will attempt to reclaim some of the shine he earned after knocking out his first three UFC foes upon his arrival in 2021, before embarking on a dismal 1-4 run of his own. Overseeing the proceedings will be referee Gary Copeland. Weidman is orthodox, Silva southpaw. Weidman is reaching out with the lead hand, looking to tie up or parry the hand of Silva. Weidman throws a right kick, then another, getting some work for the leg he broke against Uriah Hall a couple of years ago. Weidman goes upstairs with the left leg, then throws a pair of punches up the middle that hurt Silva. Silva ties Weidman up and looks for a takedown. Weidman takes a front headlock and throws some knees to the head of Silva. Weidman moves to the back, holding Silva with a rear waistlock and dragging him to his knees. Silva posts his hands on the ground, forestalling any more knees to the head, and builds back up to all fours. Silva uses the fence to deny Weidman full back control, but Weidman is throwing short strikes and keeping the Brazilian completely corralled. Under a minute to go and it’s all Weidman, as Silva is parked against the fence, defending himself but doing nothing else. Weidman is throwing knees to the back of Silva’s legs, and the round ends in that position.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Weidman

Round 2
Silva is bouncing on his toes, showing both stances. He catches a Weidman kick and pushes him over onto his seat, but Weidman pops back up. Weidman comes forward, reaching with the left hand and throwing kicks with both legs. Weidman lands a right kick to the body. Silva comes back with a pair of punches that land. Silva steps in and throws a pair of big hooks that glance off of Weidman’s arms. Weidman lands a body punch, then in the next collision, thumbs Silva right in the eye. Copeland calls time and gives Silva time to recover. There is a moment of confusion as Copeland requests a towel to clear the eye, but thankfully it arrives and they go back to work a few seconds later. Weidman immediately goes back to the right body kick, and Silva answers with a pair of punches. Weidman changes levels but Silva is all over it. Weidman catches Silva with a punch that makes him stumble, but Silva recovers quickly. Silva throws a huge hook that misses by a mile, nearly spinning him around. Silva rushes forward with hooks, all of them wild, but several land nonetheless. Weidman answers with punches of his own. Both men have been rocked. Weidman catches Silva with another left hook, backs him up to the fence and lets fly. Silva is in some trouble, even as he tries to throw back, but the round expires before either man can capitalize.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Weidman

Round 3
Silva throws a lead right hook, which Weidman slips and counters with a left. Seconds later, each man pokes the other in the eye almost simultaneously, though Silva appears to get much the worse of it, going to his hands and knees in pain as Weidman steps away blinking. During the ensuing time-out, Copeland tries to determine whether both blows were fingers or one was a fist. It turns out that both strikes were fouls, and the fighters go back to work after a warning. Weidman goes back to reaching with the left hand, and Silva goes upstairs with a huge head kick that misses high. Two minutes gone in the rounds and Weidman steps in with a straight right.
Silva leaps in with a pair of punches, and Weidman levels him with a short counter punch. Silva goes down pawing at his eye, but Weidman swings away and Copeland is there in seconds for the stoppage. Weidman celebrates to the roars of the crowd as Silva protests.
Replay shows that Weidman actually managed to poke Silva in both eyes—one with each hand!—rather than any clean punch. This is going one of the weirdest endings to a fight on a card full of weird fight endings.
The fight result is initially announced as a TKO win for Weidman. A few minutes later, however, the UFC booth states that the result will go down as a unanimous decision win for Weidman, based on the scorecards up to the point of the fight-ending foul. No individual scores are announced, nor is it clear whether the third round was scored at all, or if any point deduction was assessed for the final pair of eye pokes.

The Official Result
Chris Weidman def. Bruno Silva via Technical Decision (Unanimous).
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Angelo picks Bruno Silva despite being a Chris Weidman fan. He notes Silva hits hard and is tough, while Weidman looked old and slow in his last fight after a broken leg. He thinks this is one of Weidman's last winnable fights but believes Silva will get it done. He does not bet because he would be rooting against Weidman.

"I still got to pick Bruno Silva I am going to be cheering for Chris Weidman the entire time so don't expect to see a bet on Bruno"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 25, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Big Brady picks Bruno Silva to win by first-round knockout. He acknowledges Weidman has a path via submission due to Silva's poor ground game, but believes Silva's power will be too much for the aging Weidman, who has been knocked out multiple times. Brady notes Weidman hasn't had a good performance since 2017 and expects Silva to land a knockout.

"I'm going to take Bruno Silva to knock him out give Chris wman like his seventh knockout loss in his career Give me Bruno Silva to win this fight by give me first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Cody believes Weidman is completely shot, citing his age, injuries, and poor recent performances. He thinks Silva's power and aggression will overwhelm Weidman early, possibly by leg kicks or overhand rights. He notes Silva's cardio issues but expects a finish before that becomes a factor.

"I think something just hurts why early whether it be a leg kick that just demobilizes him again hobbles him up whether it be an overhand right that just crashes in on him"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Daniel Vreeland picks Bruno Silva, citing his 20-0 knockout ratio and Weidman's age, leg break, and history of getting knocked out. He believes Weidman will fatigue after early takedown attempts and that Silva will land a knockout. He notes Silva's submission losses but thinks Weidman won't be able to submit him due to Silva's ability to survive and get back up.

"I got Bruno blindado and it's like I said I was already fading Wyman prior to the leg break"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 26, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Weidman is 1-4 in his last five, aging, and his body can't absorb damage like before. Silva has knockout power and should time Weidman's entries for an uppercut or explosion. Weidman may get a takedown or two but lacks finishing ability at this stage. Silva by knockout in the second or third rounds is likely, but the minus 285 line is too wide to bet.

Silva by knockout; minus 175 KO prop is still too wide
"I do think that we see Silva find that knockout in the spot"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

Paul picks Silva but without much enthusiasm, calling Weidman 'beyond beyond dead.' He notes Silva's inconsistent performances and high price (-260) but sees no reason to back Weidman given his decline.

"I guess I'll pick Bruno Silva but I don't really have much intention of betting this fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

The host picks Bruno Silva to win by TKO, citing Weidman's age (39), compromised leg, and lack of finishing potential on the feet. He believes Silva's low kicks will be effective and that Weidman will be hesitant. He predicts a TKO, though he initially considered a decision.

TKO
"Bruno is going to win by TKO Weidman has no finishing potential on the feet in my opinion"
LOSS vs Brad Tavares
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Brad Tavares 0 37 of 92 40% 39 of 94 0 of 8 0% 0 0 1:21
Chris Weidman 0 70 of 115 60% 71 of 116 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Brad Tavares 0 7 of 20 35% 7 of 20 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:12
Chris Weidman 0 16 of 29 55% 16 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Brad Tavares 0 20 of 41 48% 22 of 43 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:54
Chris Weidman 0 27 of 44 61% 28 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Brad Tavares 0 10 of 31 32% 10 of 31 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:15
Chris Weidman 0 27 of 42 64% 27 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Brad Tavares 37 of 92 40% 30 of 77 5 of 12 2 of 3 35 of 90 2 of 2 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 70 of 115 60% 21 of 61 8 of 9 41 of 45 68 of 113 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Brad Tavares 7 of 20 35% 5 of 17 1 of 2 1 of 1 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 16 of 29 55% 8 of 21 0 of 0 8 of 8 16 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Brad Tavares 20 of 41 48% 16 of 32 3 of 8 1 of 1 18 of 39 2 of 2 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 27 of 44 61% 8 of 23 5 of 5 14 of 16 25 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Brad Tavares 10 of 31 32% 9 of 28 1 of 2 0 of 1 10 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 27 of 42 64% 5 of 17 3 of 4 19 of 21 27 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Aug 13, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo picks Brad Tavares despite believing Chris Weidman is the better fighter everywhere. He cites Weidman's two-year layoff, age (39), and horrific leg injury as major unknowns. He thinks Tavares will be a step ahead and faster, but admits he could be wrong and hopes Weidman wins. He advises against betting this fight due to the uncertainty.

"I still think that line is wide... Brad Tavares is going to win this fight... save your money just watch this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Big Brady picks Brad Tavares to win by third-round knockout, calling it his hot take. He believes Weidman's takedown attempts will be stuffed by Tavares' elite takedown defense, wearing on Weidman's gas tank. Brady notes Weidman hasn't impressed since 2017 and has been knocked out in all six losses, while Tavares is tough and has never been knocked out.

win by KO, round 3
"my hot take for the week is actually think uh Brad Tavares knocks out Chris Weidman... third round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Cody argues that Tavares is a gatekeeper with no knockout power and all his wins are by decision against lower-level opponents. Weidman, despite the leg break and layoff, has a wrestling advantage and could control Tavares. He thinks the line is too favorable to Tavares and likes Weidman as a value underdog, likely by decision.

over 1.5 rounds at -200; fight time over 11 minutes; Weidman by decision
"I will take that plus money on Chris Weidman but Whiteman on the PRP don't be a coward"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Daniel Levi confidently picks Brad Tavares, arguing that Weidman has been washed up since pre-pandemic and has declined significantly since USADA testing. He notes that Weidman has been knocked out in six of his last eight fights and gasses after round one. Levi praises Tavares' takedown defense and balance, and believes Tavares will stuff takedowns, get Weidman to a fatigue state, and either out-volume or knock him out. He is waiting for a better price but is comfortable with Tavares.

Waiting for minus 250 or better; Tavares by knockout or decision
"I think Brad's close to the end but I think Chris is past the end... I'm gonna go Brad Tavares"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Brad Tavares

Lucrative James confidently picks Brad Tavares, citing Chris Weidman's horrific leg injury, age (39), and being washed before the injury. He believes Tavares will finish Weidman, as Weidman has been finished in six of his last seven fights. He sees no value on the underdog here.

"I think Tavares is going to go out there and finish him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Weidman has a clear path to victory via grappling. Tavares is not a knockout threat and has been taken down by wrestlers before. Weidman's durability has held up recently, and at +220 the line is too wide. He should be able to grind out a decision or possibly find a submission.

"I'm going to take a shot on the All-American for him to go out there and get his hand raised by a decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Chris Weidman. He cites Weidman's long layoff after a leg break and doubts his KO ability. He praises Tavares' takedown defense and durability, noting he hung in with Dricus du Plessis. He expects Tavares to outpoint Weidman on the feet, possibly winning by TKO in rounds 2-3 or a 30-27 decision.

TKO in round 2 or 3, or decision 30-27
"I'm gonna have to go with Brad Tavarez over Weidman"
LOSS vs Uriah Hall
TKO (leg injury) R1 0:17 · UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 · Apr 24, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Uriah Hall 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Weidman 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Uriah Hall 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Weidman 0 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Uriah Hall 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Uriah Hall 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Apr 20, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Uriah Hall

Big Brady picks Hall to win by third-round knockout. He notes Weidman's chin is questionable after five KO losses, and his cardio looked poor in his last fight. Hall has power and a good gas tank. He expects Weidman to have early success but eventually get caught. He suggests looking at Hall by KO props.

Hall by KO in round 3
"i'm going to take hole to win by third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Uriah Hall

Cody leans toward Hall as a dog, noting Hall's late-fight finishing ability and Weidman's durability concerns. He thinks Weidman's cardio and chin are questionable and that Hall can find a knockout in the later rounds. He suggests a third-round prop for Hall and live betting after round one if Weidman tires. He acknowledges Weidman's wrestling but believes Hall's striking and resilience give him a path.

Uriah Hall by KO in round 3 (+1500), live betting on Hall after round 1
"i almost feel like i want to take a dog or pass type approach to this fight"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Uriah Hall

Daniel picks Uriah Hall, expecting him to catch Weidman in the second or third round after Weidman fatigues. He notes Weidman's tendency to win the first round but fade, and that Hall has power and a better gas tank. He believes Weidman cannot eat Hall's shots.

"i just really think that uri hall is gonna catch him in the second or third round after probably getting taken down in the first"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Uriah Hall

I'm leaning Hall by knockout. Weidman's chin is a huge concern, and Hall has power. Weidman will likely try to take the fight to the ground, but if he can't finish early, he tends to fade. Hall's best chance is to keep it standing and land a big shot. I like Hall by KO at +250, but I'm not confident enough to bet heavily due to Hall's low volume.

Hall by KO +250
"i'm going to ride hall i'm going knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Paul picks Weidman but is hesitant, citing Weidman's wrestling and grappling advantage. He notes Hall's flashy striking and comeback ability but thinks Weidman can secure takedowns and control the fight. He acknowledges Weidman's compromised chin and cardio issues but believes his top control will be enough to win a decision. He also mentions a potential Hall third-round prop as a live underdog play.

Uriah Hall by KO in round 3 (+1500), live betting on Hall after round 1
"i have to go with weidman because why because if he secures takedowns in two rounds i'm pretty confident he can probably maintain position"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

The MMA Guru picks Chris Weidman by decision, 30-27. He notes that Weidman out-grappled Hall in their first fight and rates Weidman's grappling higher than Antonio Carlos Jr.'s, who took Hall down multiple times. He thinks in a three-round fight, Weidman can sprint with his grappling and smother Hall, though Hall might win the third round. He plans to wait for better odds on Weidman.

waiting for better odds on Weidman
"i'm gonna go with chris weidman here and i'm gonna wait to put my money on it"
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik · Aug 08, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Weidman 0 33 of 91 36% 60 of 118 4 of 8 50% 0 0 1:34
Omari Akhmedov 0 29 of 56 51% 67 of 98 5 of 16 31% 0 0 8:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Weidman 0 6 of 25 24% 19 of 38 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Omari Akhmedov 0 5 of 15 33% 13 of 24 2 of 7 28% 0 0 2:59
2 Chris Weidman 0 25 of 62 40% 32 of 69 4 of 7 57% 0 0 1:34
Omari Akhmedov 0 15 of 30 50% 23 of 40 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:37
3 Chris Weidman 0 2 of 4 50% 9 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Omari Akhmedov 0 9 of 11 81% 31 of 34 3 of 4 75% 0 0 4:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Weidman 33 of 91 36% 25 of 81 7 of 9 1 of 1 21 of 74 8 of 11 4 of 6
Omari Akhmedov 29 of 56 51% 25 of 50 4 of 6 0 of 0 17 of 42 1 of 2 11 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Weidman 6 of 25 24% 4 of 23 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 22 2 of 3 0 of 0
Omari Akhmedov 5 of 15 33% 4 of 13 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Chris Weidman 25 of 62 40% 20 of 55 5 of 7 0 of 0 16 of 49 5 of 7 4 of 6
Omari Akhmedov 15 of 30 50% 12 of 26 3 of 4 0 of 0 12 of 26 0 of 0 3 of 4
3 Chris Weidman 2 of 4 50% 1 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0
Omari Akhmedov 9 of 11 81% 9 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 1 8 of 8
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 5, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Big Brady picks Weidman despite his recent losing streak, citing advantages in wrestling, submission game, and reach. He believes Weidman can take Akhmedov down and avoid a brawl, using a smart game plan similar to Stephen Thompson's. However, he is concerned about Weidman's durability and history of getting knocked out. He predicts a decision win for Weidman.

Maybe Akhmedov KO prop if odds are right
"i like chris weidman to win this fight by decision i think he's going to really tire out akhmed off and if you fight smart this is a such a winnable fight for white men"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Omari Akhmedov

Daniel Levi picks Omari Akhmedov to win, possibly by left hook knockout. He argues that Chris Weidman is 'damaged goods' with five knockout losses in his last six fights, and that Akhmedov has underrated power and durability. Levi dismisses the narrative that Akhmedov gasses in the third round, noting that at middleweight he has shown better cardio and even wobbled Ian Heinisch in the third. He also points out that Weidman's chin is suspect and that Akhmedov's wrestling and pressure will be too much.

left hook knockout
"i got omari ahmeda be a left hook knockout here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Aug 4, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Omari Akhmedov

Weidman's chin is a major concern after multiple KO losses, and Akhmedov has power even if he lacks finishes on his record. Akhmedov's wrestling is solid and he has cardio to push the pace. Weidman has advantages in striking and size, but if he gets hit, he could go down. Akhmedov by KO in the second round is the pick, but it's a risky bet.

Akhmedov inside distance +200, Akhmedov by KO
"I'm going with Omari to win this fight by second round ko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

The MMA Guru picks Chris Weidman to win by second-round submission via arm triangle. He notes that Omari Akhmedov has a gas tank problem and slows down dramatically, while Weidman has five-round experience and a five-inch reach advantage. He believes Weidman can take Akhmedov down, drain his power, and finish him in the second round. He worries about Weidman's chin but thinks Akhmedov won't have a chance to land cleanly.

second round submission, arm triangle
"wideman's going to go in there get a double leg ride out the first round and then in the second round go for the takedown again akhmadov's going to be way more gassed out and wideman is going to sink …"
LOSS vs Dominick Reyes
KO (punches) R1 1:43 · UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman · Oct 18, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dominick Reyes 1 8 of 11 72% 9 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Chris Weidman 0 3 of 6 50% 10 of 13 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dominick Reyes 1 8 of 11 72% 9 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:09
Chris Weidman 0 3 of 6 50% 10 of 13 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dominick Reyes 8 of 11 72% 7 of 10 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 4 2 of 2 4 of 5
Chris Weidman 3 of 6 50% 1 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dominick Reyes 8 of 11 72% 7 of 10 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 4 2 of 2 4 of 5
Chris Weidman 3 of 6 50% 1 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 1 of 2
LOSS vs Jacare Souza
KO (punches) R3 2:46 · UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis · Nov 03, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jacare Souza 0 68 of 193 35% 76 of 201 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:43
Chris Weidman 1 74 of 132 56% 100 of 158 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jacare Souza 0 23 of 68 33% 23 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Weidman 0 14 of 30 46% 15 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jacare Souza 0 26 of 64 40% 34 of 72 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:43
Chris Weidman 0 31 of 59 52% 50 of 78 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Jacare Souza 0 19 of 61 31% 19 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Chris Weidman 1 29 of 43 67% 35 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jacare Souza 68 of 193 35% 52 of 171 14 of 20 2 of 2 61 of 182 7 of 11 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 74 of 132 56% 42 of 89 24 of 31 8 of 12 57 of 109 15 of 21 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jacare Souza 23 of 68 33% 21 of 65 2 of 3 0 of 0 21 of 66 2 of 2 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 14 of 30 46% 5 of 16 5 of 7 4 of 7 11 of 27 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Jacare Souza 26 of 64 40% 16 of 50 8 of 12 2 of 2 23 of 58 3 of 6 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 31 of 59 52% 19 of 43 10 of 13 2 of 3 21 of 46 9 of 12 1 of 1
3 Jacare Souza 19 of 61 31% 15 of 56 4 of 5 0 of 0 17 of 58 2 of 3 0 of 0
Chris Weidman 29 of 43 67% 18 of 30 9 of 11 2 of 2 25 of 36 3 of 6 1 of 1
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 3:45 · UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum · Jul 22, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Chris Weidman 0 36 of 76 47% 75 of 124 7 of 13 53% 2 0 7:35
Kelvin Gastelum 1 26 of 47 55% 28 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Chris Weidman 0 9 of 25 36% 16 of 35 2 of 4 50% 1 0 1:43
Kelvin Gastelum 1 13 of 20 65% 14 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
2 Chris Weidman 0 10 of 15 66% 33 of 43 3 of 5 60% 0 0 3:47
Kelvin Gastelum 0 2 of 7 28% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Chris Weidman 0 17 of 36 47% 26 of 46 2 of 4 50% 1 0 2:05
Kelvin Gastelum 0 11 of 20 55% 11 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Chris Weidman 36 of 76 47% 25 of 59 6 of 12 5 of 5 24 of 59 6 of 9 6 of 8
Kelvin Gastelum 26 of 47 55% 21 of 42 4 of 4 1 of 1 14 of 34 2 of 3 10 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Chris Weidman 9 of 25 36% 5 of 17 1 of 5 3 of 3 7 of 22 2 of 3 0 of 0
Kelvin Gastelum 13 of 20 65% 12 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 9 0 of 1 10 of 10
2 Chris Weidman 10 of 15 66% 7 of 11 2 of 3 1 of 1 4 of 5 1 of 3 5 of 7
Kelvin Gastelum 2 of 7 28% 0 of 5 1 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Chris Weidman 17 of 36 47% 13 of 31 3 of 4 1 of 1 13 of 32 3 of 3 1 of 1
Kelvin Gastelum 11 of 20 55% 9 of 18 2 of 2 0 of 0 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Aug 13, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Angelo picks Brad Tavares despite believing Chris Weidman is the better fighter everywhere. He cites Weidman's two-year layoff, age (39), and horrific leg injury as major unknowns. He thinks Tavares will be a step ahead and faster, but admits he could be wrong and hopes Weidman wins. He advises against betting this fight due to the uncertainty.

"I still think that line is wide... Brad Tavares is going to win this fight... save your money just watch this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Big Brady picks Brad Tavares to win by third-round knockout, calling it his hot take. He believes Weidman's takedown attempts will be stuffed by Tavares' elite takedown defense, wearing on Weidman's gas tank. Brady notes Weidman hasn't impressed since 2017 and has been knocked out in all six losses, while Tavares is tough and has never been knocked out.

win by KO, round 3
"my hot take for the week is actually think uh Brad Tavares knocks out Chris Weidman... third round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Cody argues that Tavares is a gatekeeper with no knockout power and all his wins are by decision against lower-level opponents. Weidman, despite the leg break and layoff, has a wrestling advantage and could control Tavares. He thinks the line is too favorable to Tavares and likes Weidman as a value underdog, likely by decision.

over 1.5 rounds at -200; fight time over 11 minutes; Weidman by decision
"I will take that plus money on Chris Weidman but Whiteman on the PRP don't be a coward"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

Daniel Levi confidently picks Brad Tavares, arguing that Weidman has been washed up since pre-pandemic and has declined significantly since USADA testing. He notes that Weidman has been knocked out in six of his last eight fights and gasses after round one. Levi praises Tavares' takedown defense and balance, and believes Tavares will stuff takedowns, get Weidman to a fatigue state, and either out-volume or knock him out. He is waiting for a better price but is comfortable with Tavares.

Waiting for minus 250 or better; Tavares by knockout or decision
"I think Brad's close to the end but I think Chris is past the end... I'm gonna go Brad Tavares"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Brad Tavares

Lucrative James confidently picks Brad Tavares, citing Chris Weidman's horrific leg injury, age (39), and being washed before the injury. He believes Tavares will finish Weidman, as Weidman has been finished in six of his last seven fights. He sees no value on the underdog here.

"I think Tavares is going to go out there and finish him"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Chris Weidman

Weidman has a clear path to victory via grappling. Tavares is not a knockout threat and has been taken down by wrestlers before. Weidman's durability has held up recently, and at +220 the line is too wide. He should be able to grind out a decision or possibly find a submission.

"I'm going to take a shot on the All-American for him to go out there and get his hand raised by a decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Brad Tavares

The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Chris Weidman. He cites Weidman's long layoff after a leg break and doubts his KO ability. He praises Tavares' takedown defense and durability, noting he hung in with Dricus du Plessis. He expects Tavares to outpoint Weidman on the feet, possibly winning by TKO in rounds 2-3 or a 30-27 decision.

TKO in round 2 or 3, or decision 30-27
"I'm gonna have to go with Brad Tavarez over Weidman"