Thiago Tavares

Thiago Tavares (born November 8, 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and medical doctor who most recently competed in the Lightweight division. An 18-fight veteran of the UFC, he has also fought in the Professional Fighters League and Cage Warriors. During his tenure with the UFC, he was awarded "Fight of the Night" honors four times.

Background Born and raised in Brazil, Tavares began training in judo at the age of five and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of nine. but Tavares was forced off the card with an elbow injury. He was replaced by Waylon Lowe.

Tavares was set to face Willamy Freire at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko taking place August 1, 2010. However, on July 20, 2010, Freire withdrew because of an injury, forcing the bout to be cancelled.

Tavares faced UFC newcomer Pat Audinwood on September 25, 2010, at UFC 119, replacing an injured Aaron Riley. Tavares defeated Audinwood via submission (guillotine choke) in the first round.

Tavares then faced Shane Roller on March 3, 2011, at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann. He lost the fight via KO in the second round. Though Tavares hurt Roller in the first round, he was unable to finish him. During the second round, Tavares was caught by a straight right from Roller that knocked him out.

Tavares defeated Spencer Fisher via second-round TKO on August 27, 2011, at UFC 134.

Tavares faced Sam Stout on January 14, 2012, at UFC 142. He won the fight via unanimous decision after utilizing takedowns with his top control for most of the fight.

Tavares was expected to face Tony Ferguson on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox 3, replacing an injured Dennis Hallman. However, Tavares was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Michael Johnson.

Tavares was expected to face Dennis Hallman on September 1, 2012, at UFC 151. However, after UFC 151 was cancelled, Tavares/Hallman was then rescheduled to October 5, 2012, at UFC on FX 5. Just prior to the UFC on FX 5 weigh ins, Dennis Hallman alerted officials and Tavares that he would miss weight by 7 pounds. Tavares was given the option to take the fight anyway at a catchweight. He stated he would only fight if Hallman could make it within 3 lbs of the 156 lb. limit. Hallman couldn't make it in the allowed time and so the bout was cancelled.

Tavares next faced the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov on January 19, 2013, at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping. He lost the fight via knockout early in the first round. Following his loss to Nurmagomedov, it was announced that Tavares had tested positive for the banned substance drostanolone during his post-fight drug test and, subsequently, was suspended for nine months retroactive to January 19.

Tavares was expected to face Quinn Mulhern on November 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 32. However, Mulhern pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Justin Salas. Tavares won the fight via submission in the first round.

Move to Featherweight Tavares was expected to face promotional newcomer Zubaira Tukhugov in a featherweight bout on February 15, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 36. However, Tavares was forced out of the bout citing a rib injury and replaced by Douglas Silva de Andrade.

Tavares was expected to face Tom Niinimäki on May 31, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 41. However, Tavares pulled out of the bout citing another injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Niklas Bäckström.

In his eventual featherweight debut, Tavares faced Robbie Peralta on August 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 47. Tavares won the fight via submission in the first round after completely dominating Peralta on the ground. The win also earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Tavares was expected to face Nik Lentz in a rematch on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60. However, Tavares pulled out of the bout in late January citing yet another injury.

Tavares was expected to face Zubaira Tukhugov on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68. However, Tukhugov was replaced by Brian Ortega. Tavares lost the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the third round. Despite the loss, Tavares was awarded his fourth Fight of the Night bonus award.

Tavares faced Clay Guida on November 7, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 77. He won the fight with a quick submission in the first round. The win also earned Tavares his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Tavares next faced Doo Ho Choi on July 8, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale Tavares lost the fight via KO in the first round. Afterwards, the promotion did not re-sign Tavares, making him a free agent.

Post-UFC career After being released from the UFC, Tavares signed with Aspera FC and faced Mauricio Machado at Aspera FC 49 on February 18, 2017.

Professional Fighters League He was then signed to participate the Lightweight division of the inaugural season of PFL. His regular season begun with facing Robert Watley at PFL 2 on June 21, 2018. In the second round, Watley unintentionally kicked Tavares in the groin rendering him unable to continue after the five minute recovery time. Contrary to the unified rules, Watley was declared as the winner.

In the quarter-finals Tavares faced Islam Mamedov at PFL 9 on October 13, 2018. He lost the bout via unanimous decision and was eliminated from the playoffs. However, Mamedov could not continue to the semi-finals and Tavares was brought to replace him against Rashid Magomedov.

He is next expected to face Jean Carlos Liebl at Gladiator CF 54 on February 6, 2021.

Then, he is also expected to face Mauricio Ariel for the Super Lightweight Championship at Inside Fighters' League 1 on April 11, 2021.

Return to the UFC Tavares was signed to UFC as a ringside doctor in 2025.

Personal life Tavares studied medicine at University Institute of Health Sciences - Héctor A. Barceló Foundation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championships Fight of the Night (Four times) vs. Tyson Griffin, Matt Wiman, Kurt Pellegrino and Brian Ortega Submission of the Night (One time) vs. Jason Black Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Robbie Peralta and Clay Guida UFC.com Awards 2007: Ranked #7 Fight of the Year 2008: Ranked #2 Fight of the Year & Ranked #3 Fight of the Year 2015: Ranked #6 Fight of the Year It's Showtime MMA 2006 It's Showtime MMA Title -70 kg Rumble of Amsterdam 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix Champion MMAJunkie.com 2015 June Fight of the Month vs. Brian Ortega

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Timur Nagibin TKO (punches) Russian Cagefighting Championship 9

Ekaterinburg, Russia Win

Jean Carlos Liebl Submission (arm-triangle choke) Gladiator CF 54

Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Win

Laercio Alves dos Santos TKO (punches) Gladiator CF 53

Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Loss

Rashid Magomedov TKO (punches)

Loss

Islam Mamedov Decision (unanimous)

Win

Arthur Estrázulas Decision (split) PFL 5

Uniondale, New York, United States Loss

Robert Watley TKO (groin kick) PFL 2

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Mauricio Machado TKO (punches) Aspera FC 49

Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brazil Loss

Choi Doo-ho KO (punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Clay Guida Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 3

São Paulo, Brazil Loss

Brian Ortega TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

Robbie Peralta Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux

Bangor, Maine, United States Win

Justin Salas Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson

Goiânia, Brazil Loss

Khabib Nurmagomedov KO (punches and elbows) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Sam Stout Decision (unanimous) UFC 142

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Spencer Fisher TKO (punches) UFC 134

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Loss

Shane Roller KO (punches) UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann

Louisville, Kentucky, United States Win

Pat Audinwood Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 119

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Draw

Nik Lentz Draw (majority) UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz

Fairfax, Virginia, United States Win

Manvel Gamburyan Decision (unanimous) UFC 94

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Kurt Pellegrino Decision (unanimous) UFC 88

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Loss

Matt Wiman KO (punches) UFC 85

London, England Win

Michihiro Omigawa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Tyson Griffin Decision (unanimous) UFC 76

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Jason Black Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Stout vs. Fisher

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Naoyuki Kotani Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Stevenson vs. Guillard

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Marc Duncan Submission (rear-naked choke) It's Showtime 2006 Alkmaar

Alkmaar, Netherlands Win

Ulas Aslan TKO (punches)

Rotterdam, Netherlands Win

Adriano Gonçalves Submission (triangle choke) Sul Fight Championship 1

Balneário Camboriú, Brazil Win

Romano de los Reyes TKO (punches) Rumble Of Amsterdam 3

Amsterdam, Netherlands Win

Mathieu Lawalata Submission (heel hook) Rumble Of Amsterdam 3

Amsterdam, Netherlands Win

Daniel Weichel Submission (guillotine choke) CWFC: Enter the Wolfslair

Liverpool, England Win

Marcio Cesar Submission (rear-naked choke) Storm Samurai 9

Curitiba, Brazil Win

Fabiano Adams Submission (choke) Extreme Combat

Joinville, Brazil Win

Johny Johny Submission (triangle choke) CO: Muay Thai & Vale Tudo

Curitiba, Brazil Win

James Jones Submission (triangle choke) Reality Fighting 5

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States