After a 15-year run with the UFC, Brad Tavares finds himself outside of the promotion’s immediate plans.
The seasoned middleweight, who first stepped into the octagon in 2010, has been released from the UFC roster following the conclusion of his contract.
This information was confirmed by UFC officials to MMA Fighting on Saturday.
While there is a possibility for Tavares to re-sign with the UFC in the future, he is currently off the roster due to the expiration of his contract.
If he decides not to return, Tavares will depart as one of the most seasoned UFC veterans in recent memory, starting his career as a 5-0 prospect and accumulating a 21-10 record overall.
In his last four fights, Tavares has a 2-2 record, with victories over former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert in his most recent win in April.
The 37-year-old Hawaiian, who now resides in Las Vegas, has faced a plethora of top fighters throughout his career, including four current or former middleweight champions such as Weidman, Dricus du Plessis, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker.
The future holds uncertainty as to whether Tavares will strike a new deal with the UFC or explore options with another organization. Currently, Tavares is a free agent as his UFC contract comes to a close without a new agreement in sight.
This report includes contributions from Guilherme Cruz.