Gregory Rodrigues picks up another knockout, stops Brad Tavares at UFC Vegas 86
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, February 10, 2024, for UFC Vegas 86, going down live from the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada.
Headlining the event is a middleweight matchup between no. 11 ranked Jack Hermansson (23-8) and Joe Pyfer (12-2).
Co-headlining the event is a featherweight scrap between no. 13 ranked Dan Ige (17-7) and Andre Fili (23-10).
Our first feature fight of the evening came in the middleweight division between longtime staple Brad Tavares (20-9) and Gregory Rodrigues (15-5).
Tavares rebounded from back-to-back defeats to Dricus du Plessis (UD) and Bruno Silva (TKO) with a win over former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (UD) last August, while Rodrigues had gone 5-2 since joining the UFC in 2021, his most notable wins coming over Jun-Yong Park (KO), Julian Marquez (KO), and Chidi Njokuani (TKO).
Continue reading to see how this 185 lb affair went down:
Official Result: Gregory Rodrigues def. Brad Tavares via TKO (punches) at :55 of round three
Rodrigues opens up the contest with a lot of pressure, throwing heavy leather Tavares’ way throughout the opening four minutes of the round. He gets caught himself a couple times, but continues moving forward and also searches for a couple takedowns. Rodrigues is able to secure one toward the end of round one, where he searched for a D’Arce choke as the round came to a close.
It was hard to notice it in round one, but once round two begins we see how battered Tavares’ lead calf is, a result of Rodrigues’ precise leg kicks. Tavares has a better second round early on in it, though he’s taken down in the final minute and ends the round on his back.
Rodrigues comes out in the third and final round with a furious pace, absolutely putting it on Tavares, unloading on him with heavy punches at will. He ends up landing a hard right hand that wobbles the Hawaiian, following up with a series of others that award him the stoppage victory early in round three.
Gregory Rodrigues TKO’s Brad Tavares in the 3rd round!! pic.twitter.com/N6efSBnAe5
— ★★★★★ (@TSV__1) February 11, 2024
Gregory Rodrigues is a BJJ world champion, by far one of the better grapplers in the entire sport, but he’s only won three fights via submission in his entire 15-win career, which is just remarkable. He’s been knocking opponents out for some time now, finishing eight of his last nine wins, all eight coming via knockout with six KO’s and two TKO’s.
What a dangerous man.
Former LFA middleweight champion Gregory Rodrigues improves to 6-2 inside the octagon tonight at UFC Vegas 86.
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