A middleweight bout featuring streaking division contenders Brad Tavares and Israel Adesanya headlined tonight’s TUF 27 Finale event in Las Vegas.
Adesanya entered the contest sporting a perfect 13-0 record while the Hawaiian, Tavares, came in at 17-5 overall.
Round one begins and Tavares comes forward quickly with a pair of jabs. Israel answers with a kick to the body. Brad continues to press forward and lands a right hand over the top. He pushes Israel against the cage and begins working knees. Adesanya breaks free but Tavares catches him with a right hook as he circles out. Israel takes the center of the octagon and Brad leaps in with a jab to the body. Israel fires off a hard low kick. Brad responds with a kick to the body. Another low kick now from Adesanya. Tavares side steps and then leaps in with a jab. Israel circles along the fence and then lands a hard low kick. Adesanya with a nice jab. That got Brad’s attention. Tavares with a hard low kick. He follows that up with a jab and then a right hand. He shoots in for a single leg takedown but Israel shrugs him off. Adesanya circles and then repositions himself. He lands a nasty low kick and then leaps in with a jab. Tavares backs into the fence and Israel connects with a hard body kick. Brad circles out but Israel is staying on him. Adesanya rolls for a leg lock but Tavares scrambles and winds up on top. He delivers a punch and then Israel quickly gets back to his feet. Round one comes to an end.
Round two begins and Tavares throws a right hand over the top to start. The strike doesn’t land flush and Israel steps back and then proceeds to land a low kick. Adesanya goes high with a kick and then back to the thigh of Tavares. Brad circles out of range and then leaps in with a jab. Israel avoids and counters with a hard right hand. Tavares shoots in for a takedown but it is not there. Israel shakes free from the position and takes the center of the octagon. Tavares fires off a combination. Israel switches his stances and then just misses with a big knee. Adesanya looks very relaxed in there. He is trying to setup a big kick. Tavares with a right hand over the top. Adesanya replies with a low kick. Both men connect with straight rights. Referee Herb Dean steps in and warns Israel not to poke with his fingers. We restart and Israel lands a kick to the body that appears to hurt Tavares. Brad circles along the cage in an attempt to recover. Adesanya will let him. Brad leaps in with a right hand and the horn sounds to end round two.
Body shot drops Tavares!@Stylebender lands a nasty liver kick, but Tavares recovers! #TUF27 pic.twitter.com/YyAufXq5gN
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2018
Round three begins and Adesanya fires off a pair of hard low kicks. Brad charges forward with a right that misses. Another good low kick from Israel. He follows that up with a jab and then a knee that just misses the mark. Tavares snaps off a good left jab. He lands another. Israel replies with another hard low kick. He leaps in with a knee that connects. Tavares replies with a right hand to the body. Israel didn’t like that and opts to circle out. The fighters come together and begin to battle in the clinch. Israel scores a trip. Brad is right back up but eats a knee. Tavares leaps in with a left jab. Both men attempt knees to the body that miss. Israel with a low kick. Tavares responds with a right hand. He shoots in for a takedown but it is not there. Tavares throws a combination that misses. He pushes Israel up against the cage and begins working some knees. Israel breaks free and lands an elbow on his way out. Adesanya with a big right hand. That hurt Brad. He follows that up with a knee and then a kick. Israel goes upstairs with a head kick that partially connects. He lands another low kick before the horn sounds to end round three.
HUGE right hand backs Tavares up. @Stylebender looking sharp through three rounds! #TUF27 pic.twitter.com/xBFJBiAoki
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2018
Round four begins and Adesanya lands combination to get things started. The fighters clinch against the fence and Tavares scores a trip takedown. He begins working some shots from full guard. He postures up and drops down some heavy punches. Adesanya rolls but gives up his back. Tavares begins working strikes from Israel’s back. Adesanya scrambles and winds up in top position. He lands a strike and then allows Brad to get back to his feet. Adesanya with a big elbow and Tavares is cut. That is a nasty one. Israel with a left hand and then a right. Tavares shoots in for a takedown but Israel shrugs him off and says no. Adesanya with a big one two combination. Tavares is on the retreat now. He eats a jab but then fires one back. Israel misses with a big right hand. He goes high with a kick but Tavares blocks it. Israel goes low kick a kick and that connects. That nearly spun Tavares around. Adesanya with a big knee now. Tavares is so tough. He just ate that massive strike. Round four comes to an end.
That elbow tho …@Stylebender #TUF27 pic.twitter.com/zXeRXU4N5C
— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2018
Round five begins and Adesanya lands a jab followed by a front kick. He takes Tavares to the ground after locking in a guillotine. Israel gives up on the choke but winds up getting on Brad’s back after a scramble. Tavares rolls for a knee but Adesanya smartly scrambles and gets back to his feet. Adesanya fires off a hard kick to the body. He follows that up with a stiff low kick followed by a one two combination. Another low kick from Israel. That forces Tavares to desperately shoot in for a takedown. Israel sprawls and then shakes Brad off. Adesanya is stalking now. Tavares once again shoots in but Israel is ready for him. Another good sprawl and we are back to standing. Adesanya with an elbow. Tavares ducks under a punch and then fires off a combination. Brad shoots in for a double leg but Israel is not having it. One last shot from Tavares and this one is all over.