UFC Fight Night: Brad Tavares vs Eryk Anders Preview & Prediction
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Middleweight veterans throw down in the penultimate pairing on the prelims, with Brad Tavares set to take on Eryk Anders.
Brad Tavares vs Eryk Anders facts
What time are Brad Tavares and Eryk Anders expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 269
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos main card
Josh Emmett vs Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)
Amanda Lemos vs Gillian Robertson (Women's Strawweight)
Ion Cutelaba vs Oumar Sy (Light Heavyweight)
Andre Fili vs Jose Miguel Delgado (Featherweight)
Marwan Rahiki vs Harry Hardwick (Featherweight)
Vitor Petrino vs Steven Asplund (Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos prelims
Charles Johnson vs Bruno Gustavo da Silva (Flyweight)
Brad Tavares vs Eryk Anders (Middleweight)
Chris Curtis vs Myktybek Orolbai (Welterweight)
Bolaji Oki vs Manoel Sousa (Lightweight)
Luan Lacerda vs Hecher Sosa (Bantamweight)
Beatriz Mesquita vs Montserrat Rendon (Women's Bantamweight)
Elijah Smith vs You Su-young (Bantamweight)
Piera Rodriguez vs Sam Hughes (Women's Strawweight)
Brad Tavares: What does the Hawaiian have left in the tank entering the twilight of his career?
A UFC competitor for more than 15 years, Brad Tavares (21-11) is as battle tested as they come at 185 pounds. A grizzled veteran who has shared the cage with the likes of Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Dricus du Plessis to name but a few throughout his UFC tenure, Tavares’ game evolved a great deal since the early days of his career - he’s still a decent kickboxer with above average takedown defense. However, at age 38, there have been signs that his trademark durability may be on the decline; he’s been finished with strikes three times in the last three years, most recently getting TKO’d by Robert Bryczek last September.
Eryk Anders: "Ya Boi" looks to banish the memories of a devastating KO defeat in his last outing
A former American football linebacker who made the jump to MMA, Eryk Anders (17-9, 1 NC) is fast approaching a decade with the UFC. Posting a record of 9-9, 1 NC in that time, Anders has fought the likes of Lyoto Machida, Chris Weidman, and Khalil Rountree Jr. throughout his time in the promotion. “Ya Boi” has never been the most technical fighter; Anders typically relies on his power, athleticism, and durability to find success, a state of affairs that means the more technical operators in the division usually have their way with him. He’s coming off a brutal KO defeat to Christian Leroy Duncan last August, a loss that snapped a two fight winning streak.
Brad Tavares vs Eryk Anders prediction
Has there ever been a more Apex-appropriate 185 pound clash?
Aged 38, both of these middleweights are long past their best, posting 2-3 and 3-2 records across their last five respectively. The duo are also coming off stoppage losses, with Anders’ melting at the hands of “CLD” serving as one of the more brutal finishes of the last year.
However, given that Anders still has fight ending power and Tavares’ chin looked like it may well be irreversibly cracked in the Bryczek fight, “Ya Boi” looks to be more reliable pick here, despite his status as a slight underdog. Tavares’ lack of pop has been a problem throughout his career and bodes particularly ill here. Anders typically loses to fighters who are able to match him in the power department or out grapple him; a mold that the Hawaiian does not fit in either case.
Furthermore, Tavares fights out of Xtreme Couture; a gym that is now renowned for fighters who attempt to turn MMA fights into sparring sessions. It’s easy to envision the Hawaiian playing a points striking game at range during the early stages of the fight, only to get shocked with a massive shot from Anders that he’s unable to recover from. As such, while Tavares may well win the rounds beforehand, the pick is Anders by TKO.
Prediction: Eryk Anders to win by TKO
