Brad Tavares: From Young Contender to Stopping Those Coming Through

Brad Tavares: From Young Contender to Stopping Those Coming Through

By James Lee

Back in 2010, Brad Tavares was in his early twenties and came to the UFC as a rising fighter in the middleweight? division, going 7-0 before being beaten by Aaron Simpson at UFC 132.

The Hawaiian defeated both Seth Baczynski and Phil Baroni before facing his first professional defeat, but he went on a five fight win streak after that and consequently what followed his career for a number of years, was that he is the young fighter in the division who has time to grow into the sport before reaching UFC gold.

But now, he is the one attempting to stop the younger fighters coming through. Not progressing himself.

The change has seemingly happened very suddenly, but his fight with Robert Whittaker in 2015 was the beginning.

His most recent fight in July 2018 saw him lose to then rising fighter Israel Adesanya and now in his upcoming fight, he will play that role again when he takes on 21-year-old Edmen Shahbazyan.

The Glendale fighter is 10-0 so far since his debut in 2017 and UFC 244 represents his chance. A chance to show he belongs in the top ten of the division’s rankings alongside the best in the world.

Shahbazyan has attracted mass attraction since his debut, featuring on huge pay-per-view cards in UFC 235 and UFC 239. This weekend at Madison Square Garden will be no different.

Arguably the biggest stage of the year with the most eyes watching and the larger the event, the more to gain.

Another win, or specifically a finish, would see him take a huge step up towards the best, but Tavares needs to stop that for the safety of his place in the sport.

If Edmen Shahbazyan can continue his run on the preliminary card this Saturday, the results will be two-fold.

The rise of Shahbazyan continues and Tavares’ future at the top completely shattered.

An important middleweight fight. A literal make or make for either.