Brad Tavares won’t have a chance to fight in his home state just yet, but for now the “Ninth Island” will do just fine. ADVERTISING Brad Tavares won’t have a chance to fight in his home state just yet, but
Brad Tavares won’t have a chance to fight in his home state just yet, but for now the “Ninth Island” will do just fine.
Hilo’s Tavares will stay in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas for his next fight. A middleweight bout between the the 29-year-old and Brazilian Thales Leites was announced Tuesday as part of UFC 216, set for Oct. 7 at T-Mobile Arena.
Idle for more than 15 months just last year, Tavares (15-4, 5-2 UFC) has seen his mixed martial artist schedule and quality of competition pick up with two consecutive victories. The fight against 12th-ranked Leites (27-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC) marks the highest-ranked opponent for Tavares since he lost to Robert Whittaker, now ranked the No. 1 contender, in May of 2015.
Tavares’ next fight after that first-round knockout was to have been against Leites on August of 2016. However, a rib injury forced Tavares out of the bout, and he instead returned to fight Caio Magalhães at UFC 203 in Cleveland, winning a split decision.
Tuesday’s announcement came less than a month after Tavares earned a unanimous decision victory against Elias Theodorou in Las Vegas, his third win in his past four trips to the octagon.
The 35-year-old Leites’ last high-profile fight was a split decision loss to Michael Bisping, now the reigning champion, two summer ago. Leites has lost three of his past five bouts, though he’s coming off a win against Sam Alvey by unanimous decision in April.
While seven fights were revealed for the card, reportedly one route the UFC is pursing for a main event would match heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic against former champion Cain Velasquez.
While Tavares loves to fight in front of family and friends in Las Vegas, a win at UFC 216 would only increase his chances of fighting closer to home should the MMA organization choose to hold its first event in Honolulu – such a card undoubtedly would revolve around featherweight champion Max Holloway, from Waianae, Oahu.
Last week, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the prospects were “promising” for Holloway to get a home fight in the spring or summer of 2018.
Puna’s Leialoha edged by decision
Cheyden Leialoha went through the ultimate job interview on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the Puna fighter came up on the wrong side of a decision in Las Vegas.
Leialoha lost his fight to John Castaneda on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series by unanimous decision in a three-round bantamweight battle.
The Big Islander hung tough with Castaneda (14-2), but he couldn’t stop “Sexi Mexi” from extended his win streak in the octagon to nine. It was the first loss of Leialoha’s professional fighting career, as his record moved to 6-1.
“Gave everything I had tonight. Overall was a great experience,” Leialoha wrote on social media following the loss. “God is still good, I have the best family, friends and team that support me no matter what. Life goes on and I plan on coming back harder and smarter.”
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series features a mix of former UFC fighters, journeyman and hot prospects. As the name suggests, White is on hand to scout the fighters, as well as UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard. Fighters that impress the UFC brass can land a contract on the spot.
