UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026 · Middleweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos Next Fight
Age 38
Height 6' 1"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 39
Height 6' 1"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
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 - Eryk Anders
3.44 SLpM
47.0% Str. Acc.
4.03 SApM
50.0% Str. Def.
1.83 TD Avg
25.0% TD Acc.
80.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
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 …"
Eryk Anders - Fight History
WIN vs Brad Tavares
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."
KO R1 3:53 · UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs. Hernandez · Aug 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 7 of 12 58% 18 of 24 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Christian Leroy Duncan 1 24 of 43 55% 27 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 43 55% 9 of 26 3 of 4 12 of 13 20 of 37 3 of 3 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 7 of 12 58% 2 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0
Christian Leroy Duncan 24 of 43 55% 9 of 26 3 of 4 12 of 13 20 of 37 3 of 3 1 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Angelo picks Christian Leroy Duncan despite questioning his fight IQ. He notes Duncan is the better striker with solid takedown defense and cardio, but he can be an idiot with game plans. If Duncan decides to wrestle, Anders could bully him. However, Anders' chin is declining, so Duncan should win if he strikes.

"So CLLD is going to have to be the pick. I'm just really hoping this dude isn't making group cheese sandwiches at night."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Big Brady is confident in Christian Leroy Duncan, though he notes Duncan sometimes lacks effort. He points out that Anders has been knocked down in his last three fights by lesser strikers like Jamie Pickett and Chris Weidman, indicating a decline. Brady believes if Duncan cares even a little, he will knock out Anders early. He predicts a first-round knockout for Duncan.

first round knockout
"I like Christian Leroy Duncan. I'm pretty confident he wins this fight. Give me Duncan. I'll take him to win by first round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Connor picks Duncan, noting that Anders is limited as a strategist and technician, and that Duncan's dynamic striking and range management will be too much. He points out that Anders has only beaten low-level opponents in recent years and is slow-footed, while Duncan is dangerous and annoying to fight. Connor expects Duncan to win and move toward a top 15 matchup.

Odds mentioned: Duncan opened -400, currently -500; Anders opened +330, currently +375.
"I just don't think Eric Anders is consistent enough to keep Duncan from hurting him."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The host believes Duncan's speed and power will be too much for Anders, who is slowing down and was hurt badly by Weidman in his last fight. He thinks it's just a matter of time before Duncan lands a clean shot and puts Anders down and out.

by KO
"I think that this is a matchup where the speed and power of Duncan will be too much for Eric Anders, who's starting to slow down a little bit."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

The MMA Guru picks Christian Leroy Duncan, calling it a potential schooling. He notes Anders' recent wins are over old fighters and that Anders has become too technical. He expects Duncan to piece up Anders and win a dominant decision, possibly with a 10-8 round.

"I'm going with Christian Leroy Duncan over Eric Anders."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 7, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Christian Leroy Duncan

Zane agrees, calling Duncan a meme fighter with flashy skills but noting that Anders is a limited opponent who has struggled against similar fighters. He highlights that Anders has only beaten Kyle Daukaus, Jamie Pickett, and an aged Chris Weidman in recent years, while Duncan's athleticism and tricky style will cause problems. Zane thinks Duncan will win and eventually get exposed against top competition.

Odds mentioned: Duncan opened -400, currently -500; Anders opened +330, currently +375.
"I just don't think he's going to have a good time against a CLD."
WIN vs Chris Weidman
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 Jamie Pickett
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev · Mar 02, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 0 23 of 59 38% 83 of 147 5 of 13 38% 0 0 10:08
Jamie Pickett 1 20 of 55 36% 26 of 64 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 0 7 of 19 36% 20 of 32 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:42
Jamie Pickett 1 8 of 19 42% 9 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:16
2 Eryk Anders 0 10 of 23 43% 33 of 59 2 of 4 50% 0 0 2:57
Jamie Pickett 0 11 of 24 45% 14 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Eryk Anders 0 6 of 17 35% 30 of 56 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:29
Jamie Pickett 0 1 of 12 8% 3 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 23 of 59 38% 14 of 48 7 of 9 2 of 2 12 of 38 7 of 9 4 of 12
Jamie Pickett 20 of 55 36% 11 of 45 8 of 9 1 of 1 12 of 46 8 of 8 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 7 of 19 36% 2 of 13 4 of 5 1 of 1 5 of 16 2 of 3 0 of 0
Jamie Pickett 8 of 19 42% 3 of 14 4 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 1
2 Eryk Anders 10 of 23 43% 6 of 18 3 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 16 5 of 6 0 of 1
Jamie Pickett 11 of 24 45% 8 of 20 3 of 4 0 of 0 6 of 19 5 of 5 0 of 0
3 Eryk Anders 6 of 17 35% 6 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 11
Jamie Pickett 1 of 12 8% 0 of 11 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo picks Eryk Anders, citing his athleticism, durability, and ability to bully his way to a win. He notes Anders is a large favorite at -330, which is too wide for him, but he expects Anders to win. He suggests there might be value on inside the distance props.

Inside the distance (potential value)
"Eric Anders at minus 330 Eric Anders is a bigger favorite over Jamie picket than Muhammad makv is over Alex bre"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Anders, calling it a cage-pushing fight. He notes Anders has higher volume, more power, and is physically stronger. He expects Anders to push Pickett against the cage and take him down, similar to his 24-takedown-attempt fight. He predicts a greasy decision win for Anders.

"give me Eric Anders to win this fight win this fight by Greasy greasy decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Cody picks Anders, calling him a gatekeeper who beats lower-level opponents like Pickett. He notes Pickett's terrible output and lack of finishing ability, and that Anders has been competitive with better fighters. Cody believes Anders will win but calls it a bad bet at minus-500, though he admits he'll include Anders in parlays as a degenerate.

"I think he wins and I'm a degenerate and I'll pay minus 500 on him and some stupid parlays but if they lost I got nobody to blame but myself because it's B it's a bad bet"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Feb 26, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Anders should be able to force the action, push Pickett against the cage, and land takedowns. However, Anders is 36 and slowing down, and -400 is not a number to trust with him. The fight is expected to be closely competitive and go to the scorecards, with Anders likely getting his hand raised. The host prefers the over or fight goes to decision.

fight goes to decision
"minus 400 is not a number that I really want to trust Andre with I expect this fight to be closely competitive in certain spots but I think that we see this fight go to the judge's scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 28, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Paul picks Anders but is hesitant due to the minus-500 price. He notes Anders has been inconsistent but has faced better competition and has shown improved cardio and output recently. He thinks Pickett is on a losing streak and lacks volume or power. Paul expects Anders to win but acknowledges the price is steep and that Pickett could make it close.

"Eric Anders is uh he's the rightful favorite he should win the fight he wins the fight more often than not but like at minus 500 you got to realize with Anders is he fights with his foot not on …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

The MMA Guru initially considered Pickett but decided Anders is the pick. He notes Anders was close with Marc-André Barriault and had a scrap, while Pickett is on a four-fight losing streak and has no impressive wins. He calls Pickett 'awful' and says his wins are unimpressive.

"We're going to go Eric Anders over Jamie Pickett in 2024... Jamie Pickett's awful"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana · Jun 10, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marc-André Barriault 1 95 of 192 49% 103 of 200 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Eryk Anders 0 83 of 169 49% 87 of 173 1 of 11 9% 0 0 3:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marc-André Barriault 1 30 of 49 61% 37 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Eryk Anders 0 37 of 62 59% 38 of 63 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:40
2 Marc-André Barriault 0 24 of 61 39% 24 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 24 of 51 47% 24 of 51 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:59
3 Marc-André Barriault 0 41 of 82 50% 42 of 83 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Eryk Anders 0 22 of 56 39% 25 of 59 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marc-André Barriault 95 of 192 49% 62 of 148 32 of 43 1 of 1 67 of 154 26 of 35 2 of 3
Eryk Anders 83 of 169 49% 42 of 122 39 of 45 2 of 2 41 of 115 42 of 52 0 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marc-André Barriault 30 of 49 61% 23 of 41 7 of 8 0 of 0 10 of 25 18 of 21 2 of 3
Eryk Anders 37 of 62 59% 18 of 42 19 of 20 0 of 0 10 of 25 27 of 35 0 of 2
2 Marc-André Barriault 24 of 61 39% 11 of 44 13 of 17 0 of 0 20 of 54 4 of 7 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 24 of 51 47% 12 of 36 10 of 13 2 of 2 14 of 41 10 of 10 0 of 0
3 Marc-André Barriault 41 of 82 50% 28 of 63 12 of 18 1 of 1 37 of 75 4 of 7 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 22 of 56 39% 12 of 44 10 of 12 0 of 0 17 of 49 5 of 7 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Angelo picks Marc-André Barriault to win, but plans to bet on Eryk Anders by inside the distance. He explains that Barriault is more well-rounded and technical, but Anders is more dangerous and powerful. He expects Anders to either finish Barriault or lose a decision, so he will bet on Anders inside the distance (no action if decision).

Bet: Eryk Anders inside the distance (no action if decision) - prop not yet available
"I'm gonna pick Mark Andre to win right he's the pick... but I'm gonna bet on Eric Anders when it drops I'm going inside the distance decision no action on Eric Anders"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Big Brady picks Marc-André Barriault by decision. He notes that Barriault is high volume (6 significant strikes per minute) while Anders is low volume and will likely try to wrestle, but his takedown attempts are inefficient and will tire him. Barriault should win the striking exchanges and take over as the fight goes on, winning the second and third rounds.

"I'm gonna take Mark Andre Barry to win this fight give me Mark Andre Barrio by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Cody picks Barriault, expecting a close competitive fight that will likely go to a decision. He notes that Anders relies heavily on clinch work, but Barriault thrives in the clinch and has better cardio. He thinks Anders will slow down in the third round, allowing Barriault to pull ahead. He also mentions that Canadian judging may favor Barriault in a close fight.

Barriault by decision; over 63.5 significant strikes for Barriault on PrizePicks
"I think Mark Andre Barrio to win by decision on prize picks um I like the 63 and a half significant strikes"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Connor picks Anders, citing his recent technical improvement and physical advantages. He notes that Anders has learned to put combinations together and use his jab effectively. He believes Anders' strength and wrestling will be too much for Barriault, who is not a power puncher. He acknowledges Barriault's improvement but thinks Anders' ceiling is higher.

Anders opened at +119, currently +116; Barriault opened at -132, currently -128. Connor notes the odds should be closer to 50/50.
"I think, I think I'm going to pick Anders here."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders in a coin-flip fight, noting that Anders looked good against Dacus and has better defense, while Barriault has more volume but is slower. He is unsure about Canadian judges and the fact that Anders is no longer at Fight Ready, which could affect his conditioning. He sees this as a close fight that could go either way, so he takes the dog, but warns against making Anders a heavy play.

"I'm gonna go with Erica boy Anders just because I think it could be a coin flip type fight"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 10, 2023 (fight day)

James has no strong opinion on this fight. He sees both fighters as similar and expects a close fight if it goes to decision. He notes it could finish inside the distance due to pace, but he is leaning towards the fight going over. He passes on betting because he doesn't like betting on fights he expects to be very close unless there is a big number.

"I'm definitely passing I don't like to bet on fights where I think it's going to be super close"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Barriault's cardio and forward pressure are his key weapons; he wears opponents down with volume and durability. Anders relies on physical advantages but has shown limited technical improvements. Barriault should outwork Anders, especially in later rounds, and could even secure a late finish. Anders' only path is an early KO, but Barriault's durability is underrated.

Barriault wins by decision or late finish (round 3)
"give me Barrio similar to what he did against Julian Marquez may be possible late finish for barrio here at worst I think he wins this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

Paul picks Barriault, citing volume as the key factor. He notes that Anders will need to make it ugly with takedowns, but he is not confident in Anders' wrestling to hold Barriault down. He expects Barriault to outwork Anders over three rounds, similar to the Daukaus fight. He also likes the over on Barriault's significant strikes.

Over 63.5 significant strikes for Barriault on PrizePicks
"I think it really comes down to the volume"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Marc-André Barriault

The MMA Guru picks Marc-André Barriault, criticizing Eryk Anders for being stiff and having a history of injuries and beatings. He notes Barriault is fluid and coming off a great performance, and that Anders must finish early or he fades. He expects Barriault to pick up the pace and win by decision or late finish in front of his Canadian home crowd.

"I'm gonna go with Mark Andre Barrio over Eric Anders"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Zane picks Anders, emphasizing his physicality and improved striking. He notes that Anders' strength makes him difficult to take down and that he has become more fluid. He believes Barriault's volume will not be enough to overcome Anders' power and wrestling. He also mentions that Barriault is not a power puncher.

"Me too. The danger of the strength barrio, even volume barrio is still not a power puncher really."
WIN vs Kyle Daukaus
TKO (punches) R2 2:45 · UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland · Dec 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Eryk Anders 1 49 of 94 52% 97 of 159 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:26
Kyle Daukaus 0 37 of 79 46% 38 of 83 0 of 8 0% 0 0 0:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Eryk Anders 1 29 of 62 46% 36 of 75 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:58
Kyle Daukaus 0 33 of 63 52% 33 of 63 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:06
2 Eryk Anders 0 20 of 32 62% 61 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:28
Kyle Daukaus 0 4 of 16 25% 5 of 20 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:38
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Eryk Anders 49 of 94 52% 27 of 70 14 of 14 8 of 10 23 of 55 6 of 8 20 of 31
Kyle Daukaus 37 of 79 46% 14 of 55 8 of 9 15 of 15 35 of 76 2 of 2 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Eryk Anders 29 of 62 46% 12 of 43 9 of 9 8 of 10 20 of 46 5 of 7 4 of 9
Kyle Daukaus 33 of 63 52% 13 of 43 8 of 8 12 of 12 31 of 61 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Eryk Anders 20 of 32 62% 15 of 27 5 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 9 1 of 1 16 of 22
Kyle Daukaus 4 of 16 25% 1 of 12 0 of 1 3 of 3 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Daukaus (-215), Anders (+185)

Round 1
Middleweights open up the main card in a fight that will get one man back up to .500 inside the Octagon. Whether that is former light heavyweight Anders (14-7, 1 NC; 6-7, 1 NC UFC) or submission specialist Daukaus (11-3, 1 NC; 2-3, 1 NC UFC), that remains to be seen. They bump fists in front of referee Keith Peterson, who clocks them in right after ejecting nonsense from the Amway Center. Anders strikes first with a body kick, and Daukaus strides forward with two punches and two low kicks in response. Anders stutter-steps his way forward, and Daukaus intercepts him with a few punches and makes Anders turn around. As they trade leather, commentators Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier talk about popular television shows. Daukaus gets off a knee to the body, and he shoots in for a double but is stuffed by the brick wall former football player. Daukaus sticks out a jab, and when he kicks the body, Anders lifts him up and throws him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Anders lords over his grounded opponent with several slapping low kicks, and Daukaus considers a leglock before Anders hops away. Daukaus allows his opponent to adjust his shorts, and they touch ‘em up before re-engaging. Daukaus feints and gets kicked, and he wings a left hand over the top that slams into the side of Anders’ head. Anders backs his man up and punches the body, prompting Daukaus to spring into action. The Philadelphia native leaps forward, and after landing a few, Anders clips him with a right hand and sends Daukaus tumbling to the mat. Anders considers kicking the legs a few times before letting Daukaus back up, and Daukaus takes a few deep breaths when coming back to his feet. Anders is swinging heavily, and Daukaus does not shy away from these exchanges as he similarly slugs back. Daukaus scores thudding hooks on the side of Anders’ head, but Anders is tough and throws back with a ferocious uppercut that snaps the head back. Anders reddens the nose with a one-two, and he continues to push the pace as he works the body and head. The fighters rush together, and the crown of Anders’ head slams square into Daukaus’ face and drops him to his knees. Peterson sees it and immediately calls it, and he informs the outside officials that it was an accidental clash of heads. Daukaus takes the time he needs and gets right back to it, but Anders is on him and belts him with a few punches with a left hand that send Daukaus straight back to the floor. As Daukaus attempts to scramble and look for some kind of late submission, the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Anders
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Anders
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Anders

Round 2
Anders senses that Daukaus may not be fully recovered, and he immediately pushes the pace to start Round 2 with a vengeance. A few heavy strikes prompt “The D’Arce Knight” to shoot for a takedown, and he chains singles into doubles as Anders gets away with a fence grab. Anders slugs Daukaus on the side of the head, and these punches may be hurting Daukaus, as he lets go and flops to his back. Anders kicks the legs a few times, and this time, he lowers himself to the ground to drop a few hammerfists. Anders lands several standing-to-ground punches in rapid succession, and Daukaus kicks him back. Peterson lets Daukaus stand back up, and
Anders coils his fist and cracks Daukaus in the face with a brutal left hand. Daukaus awkwardly slumps to his knees and half-heartedly pursues a low single takedown, only to get shoved to his back, as Anders beats him down with right hand after merciless right hand. The hammerfists and punches continue to get through while Daukaus is shelled up, and Peterson has no choice but to call it on account of rain.
The knockout victory for Anders is his first finish in almost three and a half years, while he also snaps a two-fight skid in the process.

The Official Result
Eryk Anders def. Kyle Daukaus R2 2:45 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo picks Eryk Anders as a solid underdog, expecting him to bully Kyle Daukaus with better wrestling and power. He criticizes Daukaus's chin and mediocre striking, calling him a 'jiu jitsu nerd' who can snatch submissions but lacks wrestling control. He believes Anders will avoid submissions and take Daukaus's head off with strikes.

Calls Anders one of the best underdogs on the card
"I am going to go Eric Anders though I think he's going to come in here just bully the hell out of Kyle Dawkins he's gonna Big Brother him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks the underdog Anders, citing his takedown defense (75%) and power advantage on the feet. He notes Daukaus is hittable (40% striking defense) and not a great wrestler. He expects Anders to keep the fight standing and win a close decision, though he acknowledges it could go either way.

Anders wins by decision
"I actually like the dog here in Eric Anders... I will take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

Cody provides a detailed breakdown of Anders' career, calling him untrustworthy. He thinks Daukaus will land combinations and has a grappling advantage. He expects a boring decision win for Daukaus.

"I just feel like delkus is going to land the combinations when it is in the open field when it's up against the cage he's going to be landing those short shots"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Nov 30, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

Daniel Levi leans Daukaus to slightly out-hustle Anders, but he has concerns about Daukaus not putting a stamp on fights and Anders' physicality. He notes Anders' lack of activity and tendency to not pull the trigger. He picks Daukaus but is not confident.

"I uh I'm gonna lean with Kyle Dockers to come out here and just slightly out hustle Eric Anders"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Nov 29, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

The host leans towards Daukaus but is not confident enough to bet the minus 200 line. He thinks Daukaus may have a slight striking advantage and could win by decision, but he is concerned about Anders' strength and grappling. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds as a bet, expecting a clinch-heavy fight that goes to decision.

over 2.5 rounds -175; Daukaus by decision
"I do like Kyle docus to get his hand raise and for him to get his hand race via decision but I want none of that minus 200th line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 1, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

Paul picks Daukaus, noting Anders' inconsistency and poor performances. He thinks Daukaus has a grappling edge and will land more strikes. He is cautious about betting but expects Daukaus to win cleanly.

"I'm just not betting Eric Anders um on the back on the back uh half of this part of his career"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Kyle Daukaus

The MMA Guru picks Kyle Daukaus, believing Eryk Anders has lost his touch. He notes Anders looked bad against Jun Yong Park and Darren Stewart, while Daukaus has more potential and looked good against Jamie Pickett. He predicts Daukaus will win a decision with grappling and submission attempts.

Daukaus by decision (29-28)
"I'm gonna go with Kyle Dorcas"
LOSS vs JunYong Park
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira · May 21, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
JunYong Park 0 65 of 142 45% 75 of 155 3 of 24 12% 0 0 4:45
Eryk Anders 0 105 of 184 57% 108 of 187 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 JunYong Park 0 16 of 30 53% 22 of 37 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:32
Eryk Anders 0 25 of 36 69% 26 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:07
2 JunYong Park 0 16 of 38 42% 20 of 44 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:36
Eryk Anders 0 31 of 52 59% 33 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:24
3 JunYong Park 0 33 of 74 44% 33 of 74 0 of 12 0% 0 0 0:37
Eryk Anders 0 49 of 96 51% 49 of 96 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
JunYong Park 65 of 142 45% 45 of 112 17 of 25 3 of 5 56 of 131 9 of 11 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 105 of 184 57% 74 of 152 16 of 17 15 of 15 85 of 161 20 of 23 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 JunYong Park 16 of 30 53% 12 of 22 4 of 7 0 of 1 11 of 24 5 of 6 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 25 of 36 69% 11 of 21 11 of 12 3 of 3 16 of 27 9 of 9 0 of 0
2 JunYong Park 16 of 38 42% 9 of 29 6 of 7 1 of 2 12 of 33 4 of 5 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 31 of 52 59% 21 of 42 1 of 1 9 of 9 27 of 46 4 of 6 0 of 0
3 JunYong Park 33 of 74 44% 24 of 61 7 of 11 2 of 2 33 of 74 0 of 0 0 of 0
Eryk Anders 49 of 96 51% 42 of 89 4 of 4 3 of 3 42 of 88 7 of 8 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 15, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Angelo picks Eryk Anders because he believes Anders's toughness, power, and wrestling will be the difference. He notes that Park is the better overall fighter but lacks danger in his striking or submissions. Park relies on trips and pressure for takedowns, which Angelo doesn't think will work against Anders. He also suggests a plus 3.5 round bet on Anders.

Eryk Anders plus 3.5 round bet (buy a round on judge's scorecard) - available at BetOnline
"i'm on the honors side and honestly i think he's a perfect one you're this big of an underdog he's a perfect plus three and a half bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 17, 2022 (4 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Big Brady picks JunYong Park to win by decision, favoring his higher volume and striking defense over Eryk Anders. He notes Anders is a low-volume, one-shot-at-a-time striker with poor striking defense. He expects Park to outland Anders on the feet and win rounds. He acknowledges Anders could have success with takedowns but doubts he can hold Park down.

"give me jungyeon park to win a buy decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 18, 2022 (3 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Cody picks Park, citing his better pace, ground game, and consistency. He criticizes Anders for low volume, lack of urgency, and getting outstruck in many fights. He believes Park will come forward, outland Anders, and grind out a decision. He is confident in the moneyline.

"i gotta go with the logical thinking here and the logical thinking is park's just gonna come forward back him up outland him hopefully not get caught by anything and then uh slowly just grind away in route to what …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert picked May 21, 2022 (fight day)

The host is uncertain about this fight. He notes that it could be volatile and come down to who is stronger, with Anders being the stronger fighter. He finds the Park line too wide but does not have the courage to bet Anders at plus money. He passes on betting the moneyline and instead considers the over 2.5 rounds, which he thinks is around -160.

over 2.5 rounds (part of totals parlay)
"tough fight i'm passing man if anything i bet the over two and a half"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 18, 2022 (3 days before fight)
JunYong Park

Paul agrees with Cody, saying Park is the logical pick. He notes Anders' inconsistency and low volume, and that Park should be able to outwork him. He is with Cody on this one.

"i'm with you on that one bro"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 17, 2022 (4 days before fight)
JunYong Park

The MMA Guru picks JunYong Park, citing his superior cardio, leg kicks, and combination striking. He thinks Eryk Anders is a simple fighter and may have less power after trimming down. He believes Park's grappling defense and pace will be too much, predicting a 29-28 decision with Park taking the last two rounds.

"i'm going to have to go of yoon yong park here over ericander's"
LOSS vs André Muniz
Submission (armbar) R1 3:13 · UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier · Dec 11, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
André Muniz 0 8 of 16 50% 12 of 20 2 of 5 40% 2 0 2:18
Eryk Anders 0 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 André Muniz 0 8 of 16 50% 12 of 20 2 of 5 40% 2 0 2:18
Eryk Anders 0 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
André Muniz 8 of 16 50% 6 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 12 2 of 2 1 of 2
Eryk Anders 3 of 13 23% 0 of 8 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 André Muniz 8 of 16 50% 6 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 12 2 of 2 1 of 2
Eryk Anders 3 of 13 23% 0 of 8 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 12 0 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 8, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Big Brady picks Eryk Anders as an underdog, but with low confidence. He notes that Muniz is a phenomenal grappler with a wizard-like BJJ, but his striking is poor and he has been knocked out in all four losses. Anders has good takedown defense (76%) and power, and if he can stuff takedowns and extend the fight, he can finish Muniz by knockout. However, if the fight hits the mat, Muniz is extremely dangerous. Brady is concerned about Muniz's cardio and Anders' fight IQ.

Anders by knockout
"i'm going to go with eric anders here to stuff the takedowns get into the second round the third round and eventually finish andre minis and give him his fifth knockout loss"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Dec 9, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Eryk Anders

Daniel Levi picks Eryk Anders to upset André Muniz. He argues that Muniz will have difficulty taking Anders down due to Anders' size and strength, and that Anders' jiu-jitsu is good enough to survive on the mat. Levi notes that Anders has never been submitted and rarely taken down. On the feet, he believes Anders throws more and has knockout power. Levi acknowledges Muniz's elite jiu-jitsu but thinks Anders can sprawl-and-brawl to a decision or KO.

"give me eric anders to upset someone i respect very much in andre muniz"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2021 (5 days before fight)
André Muniz

The MMA Guru picks André Muniz to win by first-round submission (rear-naked choke). He highlights Muniz's dangerous grappling, as seen in his armbar win over Jacaré. He notes Anders is taking the fight on short notice and has been taken down before. He suggests a live bet on Anders if the fight goes to the third round, as Muniz has slowed down in the past.

first-round rear-naked choke; live bet on Anders in third round if Muniz fails to secure early submission
"i think he's going to get this one done on draymond is by the way by real naked choke in the in the first round"
Expert Picks (9)
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)
No clear pick

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)
No clear pick

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."