Brad Tavares has overcome his April defeat to Bruno Silva but is making arrangements to prevent a repeat of the early stoppage that occurred that night.
During an intense clash between two powerful middleweights, Tavares was anticipating a fierce contest. However, he was unexpectedly struck by a sharp right hand from Silva that brought him to the ground. Silva went for a follow-up strike, but Tavares was still maneuvering to evade any further damage when referee Mark Smith hastily intervened to call off the fight.
Although Tavares recognizes the visual impact of a harsh knockdown, he insists he was fully conscious of what was occurring and was actively defending himself. The fight was brought to an abrupt end before he was even given a chance to counter.
Speaking to MMA Hook, Tavares expressed his respect for Silva, while asserting that the match was terminated far too early. Though he admitted to being caught by Silva, he stressed that he was never knocked out, and felt that he was robbed of the opportunity to fight back.
Mark Smith is an experienced referee, mainly officiating fights in Nevada, where Tavares also lives. They know each other well.
In the past, Tavares had no issues with Smith’s refereeing. However, that changed entirely after his bout with Silva. He expressed his frustration with Smith, saying he would prefer to be knocked out rather than have a fight stopped prematurely.
Because of what he perceives as an early termination, Tavares intends to talk to the Nevada Athletic Commission or other authorities to make sure Smith is never the referee in his fights again.
Fighters have the right to file complaints with commission officials to exclude certain referees from their fights, a step Tavares is determined to take concerning Smith.
Tavares acknowledged that this is a new situation for him, having never had a problem with officiating in his career, spanning over 20 UFC fights and many more prior to that. He now feels driven to work with the commission to ensure Smith doesn’t referee his fights, expressing his belief that Smith failed at his job and cost him a fight.
Though Tavares doesn’t anticipate crossing paths with Smith in his upcoming UFC 292 fight in Boston, he’s resolved to ensure there’s no recurrence of this issue when he returns to fight in Las Vegas.
Tavares was unambiguous in his feelings, saying he doesn’t care if Smith is offended by his stance. He believes everyone knows he’s a tough fighter who deserves a fair chance to fight back. He insists the stoppage was premature, a sentiment he believes is widely shared, but he also emphasizes that he’s not blaming Bruno Silva and has moved on from the incident.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword Brad Tavares
What happened in the fight between Brad Tavares and Bruno Silva?
During an intense middleweight fight, Brad Tavares was struck by a sharp right hand from Bruno Silva and fell to the ground. Referee Mark Smith intervened to stop the fight, a decision Tavares felt was made prematurely.
Who is the referee that Brad Tavares has an issue with?
Brad Tavares has an issue with referee Mark Smith, whom he accuses of stopping the fight with Bruno Silva too early. He plans to ensure Smith never referees his fights again.
Why does Brad Tavares believe the fight was stopped too early?
Tavares believes that despite being knocked down, he was fully aware of what was happening and was actively defending himself. He feels the fight was halted before he had a chance to fight back.
What steps is Tavares planning to take against Mark Smith?
Tavares intends to talk to the Nevada Athletic Commission or other governing bodies where he competes to ensure that Mark Smith is never the referee in his fights again. He may file complaints to exclude Smith from his future fights.
Will Tavares and Smith likely cross paths in Tavares’s next fight at UFC 292?
Tavares does not anticipate crossing paths with Smith in his upcoming UFC 292 fight in Boston, but he’s resolved to ensure there’s no recurrence of this issue when he fights in Las Vegas again.
Does Tavares have any issues with his opponent, Bruno Silva?
No, Tavares has expressed respect for Silva and emphasizes that he did nothing wrong. He believes the early stoppage was solely due to the officiating, not Silva’s actions.
