Brad Tavares vs. Jun Young Park takes place this evening as the co-main event of the latest UFC Fight Night card.
Though Tavares remains one of the longest-tenured UFC fighters in the division, his time is rapidly coming to an end, and that’s why Park will be ready to capitalize on his decline.
UFC odds have Park listed as a -190 favorite, while Tavares is a +160 underdog. Here are my best free UFC Fight Night: Tavares vs. Park predictions from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tavares vs Park prediction and pick
- My fight prediction
Park moneyline (-190 at BET99) - My best bet
Fight to go the distance (-240 at BET99)
Fight analysis
Brad Tavares has been a reliable operator at middleweight for a long time, serving as a litmus test for many of today's top contenders and former champions when it was their time to prove their worth. He maintains decent striking, solid takedown defense, and he fights in a very controlled and patient manner.
However, Tavares has seen better days, going 1-3 in his last four fights, with the sole win being against a badly faded Chris Weidman. His most recent loss — a third-round stoppage to Gregory Rodriguez — suggests he may not have much left in the tank.
Jun Yong Park is a banger, and he likes to get inside, aiming for takedowns and maintaining a high-intensity approach when he grounds his opponents and looks for submissions. Though the South Korean is an entertaining fighter to watch, he is coming off a split-decision loss to Andre Muniz, where he dominated the striking but was taken down 11 times.
Ultimately, Park's intensity and pacing will leave Tavares behind. This could still be a close fight if Tavares can slow it down and capitalize on Park's mistakes, but his recent performances suggest he's a step slower than he used to be.
Best best analysis
Neither fighter excels at finishing, with most of their bouts either going the distance or at least extending into the third round. I wouldn’t put it past Park to attempt a few takedowns, but even if he succeeds, Tavares has impeccable ground defense and hasn’t lost by submission in his career.
Even in his current state, Park’s submission game isn't strong enough to hand Tavares that kind of loss. The best bet is that this matchup goes the distance.
Brad Tavares vs Jun Yong Park odds
Method of Victory | Tavares | Park |
---|---|---|
To win outright | +160 | -190 |
To win by KO/TKO | +850 | +400 |
To win by decision | +240 | +125 |
To win by submission | +2,500 | +790 |
Draw | +2,500 | +2,500 |
Odds as of 10-12.
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Brad Tavares vs JunYong Park tale of the tape
Tavares | Park | |
---|---|---|
36 | Age | 33 |
6-foot-1 | Height | 5-foot-10 |
185 pounds | Weight | 185 pounds |
74 inches | Reach | 73 inches |
20-10 (5 KOs) | Record | 17-6 (5 KOs) |
Not intended for use in MA.
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