Veteran UFC middleweight Brad Tavares has confirmed he is officially back with the promotion, despite a short period where his name was absent from the active fighter list.
Following his decisive victory over Gerald Meerschaert in April, the 15-year UFC fighter was temporarily removed from the roster. This action occurred because, as promotion officials confirmed, Tavares had completed the final fight on his previous contract. It`s standard procedure for the UFC to remove fighters when their contract concludes or they are released.
However, in Tavares`s case, his off-roster status was brief. He was already engaged in discussions for a new contract with the UFC, which has now been finalized.
Tavares explained that his last bout was indeed the end of his prior agreement. He noted the UFC`s efficiency in quickly removing him from the roster once the contract expired. This happened precisely as he was in the process of negotiating his new deal, which he found somewhat humorous.
Given his long tenure, Tavares reaching the end of a contract was somewhat surprising.
He received numerous inquiries from friends and family after his removal from the roster went public. Despite the concern from others, Tavares, confident in the ongoing negotiations, chose not to address the situation publicly and allowed people to speculate.
Ultimately, the situation resolved itself as expected. Tavares admitted that despite his many years with the UFC, he recognized the risk of entering his most recent fight with only one bout remaining on his contract.
Before defeating Meerschaert by decision, Tavares had faced two consecutive losses. He acknowledged that a third straight defeat would likely have marked the end of his UFC career.
He described it as the inherent risk in the sport. He stated with certainty that had he performed poorly or lost that fight, it would have been his final appearance for the promotion. He understood the business aspect, emphasizing that the last fight on a contract, whether it`s the third or fifth, is critical for negotiation leverage. Coming off a loss significantly hinders the ability to secure a favorable new deal.
In the end, Tavares successfully reached an agreement to re-sign with the UFC. He is now eager for his next assignment and aims to set the record for the most wins in the history of the middleweight division. He is currently tied with Michael Bisping, both holding 16 victories at 185 pounds.
Tavares expressed gratitude towards the promotion, stating, “UFC has always been great to me. They gave me another contract. Now I can go out there and hold the record myself.”
