Brad Tavares reacts to potential middleweight record at UFC Vegas 114

LAS VEGAS – Brad Tavares is knocking on the door of historical past within the UFC middleweight division.

Saturday, at UFC Fight Night 269 at the META Apex (Paramount+), Tavares (21-11 MMA, 16-11 UFC) takes on Eryk Anders in a battle between two mainstays of the division. A win for Tavares would make him the winningest middleweight in UFC historical past, breaking a tie at 16 with former champion Michael Bisping.

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Tavares already has probably the most complete fights within the division (27), most determination wins (14), and most complete struggle time (5:49:18), in accordance to UFC Stats. Despite the chance to take the lead in one other class, Tavares is taking the lead-up to his struggle in opposition to Anders (17-9 MMA, 9-9 UFC) like another.

“I’ve never been one to chase those types of things,” Tavares instructed reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I’ve always been competitive. That’s why I got into this. I’ve just always wanted to be better than the guy standing across from me. So, any record or accolade that I’ve compiled along the way, you know, I feel like it’s just because I’m blessed by God. He’s given me the ability, skillset, the longevity to be here and to do this.

“Don’t get me fallacious, I absolutely intend to have it on Saturday, nevertheless it’s simply extra about going on the market and beating Eryk. I’m not so involved with having that record. That’s only a cool factor that comes with it.”

Tavares enters his first struggle of the 12 months following a third-round TKO loss to Robert Bryczek in September. Anders additionally seems to rebound from a loss in his final outing, which was a first-round end at the palms of Christian Leroy Duncan in August.

This article initially appeared on MMA Junkie: Brad Tavares ‘not so concerned’ with UFC middleweight history