UFC veteran Brad Tavares has confirmed he has re-signed with the promotion, clarifying the confusion surrounding his recent temporary removal from the active roster.
Following his dominant victory over Gerald Meerschaert in April, the 15-year UFC competitor was briefly taken off the roster. This move typically indicates a fighter`s contract has ended or they`ve been released. However, Tavares`s situation was different.
Tavares explained on the “Still Friends Show” podcast that his recent fight was simply the last bout on his previous contract. He was removed from the roster automatically as the contract expired, even though he was already in negotiations for a new deal, which has now been finalized.
His temporary absence from the list of active fighters surprised many, given his long tenure with the organization. Tavares received numerous messages from friends and family inquiring about the situation but chose not to address it publicly at the time, letting people speculate while knowing the resolution was imminent.
The middleweight fighter acknowledged the inherent risk of fighting out the final bout on a contract, especially after suffering back-to-back losses prior to the Meerschaert fight. A third consecutive defeat, he admits, would likely have marked the end of his UFC run.
Tavares stressed that this risk is part of a fighter`s career, particularly when heading into the final fight of a contract. The outcome of that crucial fight significantly impacts negotiation power for a new deal. “If you come off a loss on that one, it`s hard to negotiate. At the end of the day, it`s a business. That`s the chance you take,” he stated.
Having successfully secured a new contract, Tavares is now looking forward to his next fight. His sights are set on making history by surpassing Michael Bisping to hold the record for the most wins in the UFC middleweight division. Both fighters currently share the record with 16 victories at 185 pounds.
Tavares expressed gratitude towards the promotion, saying, “UFC has always been great to me. They gave me another contract. Now I can go out there and hold the record myself.”
