LAS VEGAS – Brad Tavares likes how he matches up with Gerald Meerschaert, however received’t make the error of underestimating him.
Tavares (20-10 MMA, 15-10 UFC) takes on fellow middleweight veteran Meerschaert (37-18 MMA, 12-10 UFC) in Saturday’s (ESPN, ESPN+) UFC on ESPN 65 major card on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Meerschaert has come up large as an underdog with stunning finishes over the likes of Makhmud Muradov, Bruno Silva, and Edmen Shahbazyan – and Tavares is totally conscious of that.
“I beloved it – it’s a combat that I really wished,” Tavares stated of Meerschaert at Wednesday’s media day. “I believe stylistically, it’s a great matchup. Gerald is a really robust man, however I believe for me very beatable – not taking something away from him.
“I really feel like that’s the downfall to a variety of the individuals he’s crushed as a result of a variety of his fights you’ll watch, you assume he’s down and out, it’s over, and right here comes Hail Mary: He pulls it off. So that you’ve acquired to respect that concerning the man. (He’s) one other veteran who’s been right here a very long time, has a variety of fights, a variety of expertise like myself, so positively not overlooking him.”
Though Tavares is anticipating to have his moments within the combat, he received’t essentially chase the end or anticipate it. He explains why.
“He’s a troublesome man. He’s arduous to place away,” Tavares stated. “Even when individuals assume they’ve acquired the combat within the bag with him, you watch his movie, you see a variety of his fights – he’ll pull it off. He’ll discover a approach. He’s a type of guys that can discover a option to get it achieved, and it’s important to respect that about him.
“Lots of people perhaps mid-fight – a few of them go into that not respecting him, and a few of them as a result of they’re doing so effectively, they overlook virtually. Once more, expertise: I’ve made that mistake up to now earlier than the place I’ve achieved so effectively early on, and I sort of let off the gasoline or acquired away from the sport plan a bit of bit, after which it in the end doesn’t work out. It’s one thing I mentally hold reminding myself.”
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