After a Twitter callout, Brad Tavares got his wish. He is set to clash with Elias Theodorou at the TUF Redemption Finale in Vegas.
Tavares knew exactly how to reach him as Theodorou is known to be one of the most active fighters on Twitter and the matchmakers automatically obliged. Theodorou is coming off a decision win over Cezar Ferreia while Tavares edged out Caio Magalhaes back in UFC 203.
“It was a fight that I wanted, myself, my coaches, my management we liked it,” Tavares explained. “I believe they asked Elias but at the time I think he was trying to get a fight with Rashad Evans which I don’t understand why being that he just came off of a loss so I went to Twitter and tried to make it happen. I issued a hair cutting challenge but ultimately that didn’t happen but I got the fight so I’m happy.”
He was scheduled to take on Hector Lombard back in January but Lombard was forced off the card. Tavares also had to pull out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury. He revealed that it was in fact a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for the past few months.
“I actually avulsed my hamstring but now it’s all good, it’s back to 100%,” Tavares explained. “I was at training, sparring and I landed in a freak way and I completely avulsed my hamstring tendon from the bone, it completely ripped off.”
“The positive is although it did tear completely off the bone, its close enough where I got 3 opinions and all 3 said that they think that the best and fastest course of action is letting it heal on its own with rehab and recovery rather than surgery.”
Now healthy, he turns his attention to July 7th when he takes on the surging Theodorou. The proud Hawaiian will fight at home in Vegas where he currently lives and trains out of Xtreme Couture.
Confident going in, he feels he has all the tools to beat Elias, no matter where the fight goes.
“I do see that he’s a very game and good opponent, I however feel I‘m the better fighter and July 7th I believe I’ll go out there and prove that,” Tavares said. “If you watch all his fights, he’s always in tremendous shape and I think that’s his biggest attribute but on my end I’m also always in great shape for my fights so those 2 things will cancel each other out and it will come down to who has the better skill set and I believe that’s me.”
That being said, Tavares knows he’s in for a tough and gritty fight. Theodorou has only lost once in his pro MMA career (Thiago Santos) and it came by the way of decision.
“I think a lot of people look at him and in a way overlook him,” Tavares said. “He doesn’t possess this crazy striking background and hasn’t really knocked out a lot of people so I think they overlook him but then they get in there and realize he’s tough guy so I’m not looking past Elias at all.”
“I just want to come out victorious however it is. This guy he’s really tough, I don’t think he’s ever been put away so I just want to go out there and dominate and come out victorious in whatever way.”