UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping had a heartwarming exchange with Brad Tavares at UFC Vegas 105, as Tavares equaled one of Bisping`s significant records.
Brad Tavares, a UFC middleweight, and Michael Bisping, a Hall of Famer, once competed in the same division. Although their paths never crossed in the Octagon as opponents, UFC Vegas 105 brought Tavares and Bisping together in a unique way.
At UFC Vegas 105 on Saturday, Tavares and grappling expert Gerald Meerschaert engaged in a closely contested battle on the main card. The middleweight veterans delivered a strategic and physical match that was decided by the narrowest of margins.
After three rounds, Tavares was awarded a unanimous decision, breaking a two-fight losing streak and returning to the win column. However, this victory at UFC Vegas 105 was more meaningful than just a regular win for Tavares.
Brad Tavares and Michael Bisping Share a Moment of Recognition at UFC Vegas 105
In a customary post-fight procedure for UFC events, Tavares was interviewed live by the UFC`s designated interviewer. At UFC Vegas 105, this role was filled by Michael Bisping, who began the interview by revealing to Tavares the importance of his recent achievement.
Bisping announced to Tavares that with his victory over Meerschaert, he had matched the Hall of Famer`s record for the most wins in the UFC middleweight division. Currently, both Bisping and Tavares are tied at the top of the leaderboard for middleweight victories, each with 16 wins.
Below is a clip of the wholesome post-fight interview between Bisping and Tavares, where the two middleweights shared a laugh, acknowledging their shared place in UFC middleweight history.
Lerone Murphy Challenges Former Title Contender After UFC Vegas 105 Main Event
Michael Bisping`s career concluded after a knockout defeat by Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai in November 2017. Following a period as middleweight champion, Bisping`s reign ended when he lost to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217.
Prior to his victory against Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 105, Tavares had suffered consecutive losses to Jun-Yong Park and Gregory Rodrigues. His previous win was against former champion Chris Weidman at UFC 292.
The main event of UFC Vegas 105 saw Lerone Murphy secure a clear victory over Josh Emmett, known for his knockout power. Following his unanimous decision win against Emmett, Murphy called out Brian Ortega, a former title challenger, as a potential opponent for a No. 1 contender match.
After his win, Murphy had a brief confrontation with a spectator at the UFC Apex, but security quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation.
Bisping`s appearance as a commentator at UFC Vegas 105 was not without controversy. He faced criticism from some fight fans on social media who accused him of biased commentary.
Rupert Hartwell