Sunday, January 24, 2021UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Brad Tavares defeated Antonio Carlos Junior by Unanimous Decision in round 3 (5:00) in the Middleweight bout of UFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2, held Sunday, January 24, 2021 at UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi. The judges scored it 30-27, 29-28, 30-27, Brad Tavares won the decision.
Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior
Fight stats: totals
Same scale left and right on every row; the pale tail behind a bar is attempts
Brad TavaresAntonio Carlos Junior
0
Knockdowns0
54 / 108
Significant strikes34 / 103
50%
Sig. strike accuracy33%
73 / 135
Total strikes57 / 135
0 / 0
Takedowns1 / 12
0:05
Control time6:28
Where it landed
Significant strikes landed by target in this fight
Brad TavaresAntonio Carlos Junior
2852%2471%
Head
611%26%
Body
2037%824%
Leg
Where it happened
Where the landed significant strikes came from
Brad Tavares
93%
Antonio Carlos Junior
97%
■ Distance■ Clinch■ Ground
Range × target
Significant strikes landed by range and target in this fight · landed / attempted in each cell
Brad Tavares54 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
2626/72
44/6
2020/24
Clinch
22/4
22/2
0
Ground
0
0
0
Antonio Carlos Junior34 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
2323/90
22/2
88/8
Clinch
11/3
0
0
Ground
0
0
0
Round by round
Significant strikes landed per round · the judges' scores under each
Brad TavaresAntonio Carlos Junior
R1
9
9
10-910-910-9
R2
25
11
10-910-910-9
R3
20
14
10-910-910-9
Bars share one scale across rounds. Each chip is one judge's score for the round, coloured by who they gave it to.
Round 1Judges: Brad Tavares
0
Knockdowns0
9 / 26
Significant strikes9 / 30
35%
Sig. strike accuracy30%
12 / 31
Total strikes21 / 44
0 / 0
Takedowns0 / 3
0:00
Control time2:47
Round 2Judges: Brad Tavares
0
Knockdowns0
25 / 49
Significant strikes11 / 34
51%
Sig. strike accuracy32%
25 / 49
Total strikes14 / 40
0 / 0
Takedowns1 / 4
0:05
Control time1:11
Round 3Judges: Brad Tavares
0
Knockdowns0
20 / 33
Significant strikes14 / 39
61%
Sig. strike accuracy36%
36 / 55
Total strikes22 / 51
0 / 0
Takedowns0 / 5
0:00
Control time2:30
Judges' Scorecards
Media Scores
21
Brad Tavares
0
Antonio Carlos Junior
●29-28 Tavares×15●30-27 Tavares×6
All 21 media scorecards
- MMAMania.com30-27Tavares
- MMAJunkie.com30-27Tavares
- Paul Fontaine · WrestlingObserver.com30-27Tavares
- Matthew Wells · TheBodyLockMMA.com30-27Tavares
- Jay Pettry · Sherdog.com30-27Tavares
- Ryan Frederick · WrestlingObserver.com30-27Tavares
- Drake Riggs · TheBodyLockMMA.com29-28Tavares
- Scottie Smith · Sherdog.com29-28Tavares
- Tristen Critchfield · Sherdog.com29-28Tavares
- Marcel Dorff · mmadna.nl29-28Tavares
- Joe McDonagh · Cageside Press29-28Tavares
- John Pollock · POST Wrestling29-28Tavares
- Dayne Fox · BloodyElbow.com29-28Tavares
- Dominik Durniat · Polsat Sport29-28Tavares
- Rob Tatum · CombatPress.com29-28Tavares
- Scott Fontana · Couchside Judges29-28Tavares
- Nick Baldwin · theScore29-28Tavares
- Ben Duffy · Sherdog.com29-28Tavares
- Ant Walker · Sherdog.com29-28Tavares
- MMABrasil.com.br29-28Tavares
- Jillian DeCoursey · CombatPress.com29-28Tavares
Fan Scorecards
48 fan scorecards submitted
94%
Brad Tavares
2%
Draw
4%
Antonio Carlos Junior
●29-28 Tavares58.3%●30-27 Tavares31.2%●29-28 Junior4.2%●30-28 Tavares4.2%
Fans' round-by-round verdict
R1
63%
Junior
R2
100%
Tavares
R3
92%
Tavares
Insights
- Antonio Carlos Junior lands 3.04 takedowns per 15 minutes, more than 88% of UFC fighters.
Style & credentials
Brad Tavares
MMA
- —Purple belt · BJJ
- 2010Semifinalist · The Ultimate Fightermiddleweight
- —Waiakea High School (Hilo, Hawaii)Football (linebacker); track and field
Antonio Carlos Junior
No background on record
Camp · American Top Team · BrazilSig. strikes by zone
Where each fighter lands, as a share of significant strikes
59%69%
Head
17%18%
Body
23%13%
Leg
Time in position
Share of fight time at distance, in the clinch and on the ground
Brad Tavareslast 8 fights
66%23%11%
Antonio Carlos Juniorlast 5 fights
60%21%19%
■ Distance■ Clinch■ Ground
How good, really
Each stat against every UFC fighter, in plain words
Brad Tavares Antonio Carlos Junior· from fights outside the UFC
Strikes landed / min
3.412.05
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Brad Tavares · Average · better than 50% of UFC fightersAntonio Carlos Junior · Poor · better than 11% of UFC fighters
Strikes taken / minfewer is better
3.322.06
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Brad Tavares · Average · better than 52% of UFC fightersAntonio Carlos Junior · Elite · better than 90% of UFC fighters
Takedowns landed / 15 min
0.703.04
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Brad Tavares · Below avg · better than 30% of UFC fightersAntonio Carlos Junior · Elite · better than 88% of UFC fighters
Takedown accuracy
26%38%
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Brad Tavares · Below avg · better than 24% of UFC fightersAntonio Carlos Junior · Average · better than 51% of UFC fighters
Takedown defence
80%57%
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Brad Tavares · Good · better than 83% of UFC fightersAntonio Carlos Junior · Below avg · better than 37% of UFC fighters
Submission attempts / 15 min
0.000.90
PoorBelow avgAverageGoodElite
Brad Tavares · Poor · better than 0% of UFC fightersAntonio Carlos Junior · Good · better than 77% of UFC fighters
Ranked against 1499 UFC fighters with five or more UFC fights.
Striking & grappling
Same scale left and right on every row
3.41
Strikes landed / min2.05
3.32
Strikes taken / minfewer is better2.06
0.70 / 2.7
Takedowns landed / 15 min3.04 / 8.0
26%
Takedown accuracy38%
80%
Takedown defence57%
1:40
Control time / fight5:12
0.00
Submission attempts / 15 min0.90
Bars in a row share one scale. The stronger side is solid; the pale tail behind takedowns is attempts.
Where the strikes land
Range × target
Brad Tavares25 UFC fights · 1148 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
51%585/1752
12%141/241
23%262/315
Clinch
4%50/96
5%52/60
1%16/16
Ground
3%34/55
0%2/2
1%6/6
Antonio Carlos Junior13 UFC fights · 290 landed
Head
Body
Leg
Distance
43%125/455
11%32/49
10%30/31
Clinch
3%8/15
4%11/14
3%10/12
Ground
22%63/94
3%9/9
1%2/2
Share of significant strikes landed by range and target · landed / attempted in each cell.
When it ends
Every early finish of their careers, placed at the minute it ended
Brad Tavares13 of 33 ended early · 39%20 went the distance
R1R2R3R4R5
3 early stoppages have no logged time
Antonio Carlos Junior14 of 25 ended early · 56%11 went the distance
R1R2R3R4R5
2 early stoppages have no logged time
finished the opponent got finished· placed at the minute the fight ended
Recent form · last 5
Brad Tavares1-4
- LUFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- L
- WUFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Murphy · Apr 5, 2025Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Royval vs Taira · Oct 12, 2024Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- L
Full record · 33 fightsShow less
- WUFC 292: Sterling vs O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- L
- LUFC 276: Adesanya vs Cannonier · Jul 2, 2022Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- WUFC 264: Poirier vs McGregor 3 · Jul 10, 2021Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- WUFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2 · Jan 24, 2021Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- L
- LThe Ultimate Fighter Finale: Tavares vs Adesanya · Jul 6, 2018Unanimous Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- W
- W
- WUFC Fight Night: Johnson vs Gaethje · Jul 7, 2017Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- W
- L
- W
- L
- L
- WUFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs Philippou · Jan 15, 2014Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Condit vs Kampmann 2 · Aug 28, 2013Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- WUFC on FUEL TV: Silva vs. Stann · Mar 3, 2013Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- W
- WUFC on FUEL TV: Korean Zombie vs Poirier · May 15, 2012Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- L
- W
- WThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs Team Ortiz Finale · Jun 19, 2010Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- WJonathan JoaoX-1 World Events 25 · Mar 7, 2009TKO · Middleweight
- WJoshua FerreiraX-1 World Events 19 · Sep 27, 2008· R2 · 2:28 · Middleweight
- WDevin KauweIcon 51: Hard Times · Aug 2, 2008TKO · R1 · 1:52 · Middleweight
- WJon FerrellNVP: Local Pride · Apr 18, 2008Middleweight
- WThomas SodenoMMA Contenders · Jun 29, 2007TKO · R1 · 0:40 · Middleweight
Antonio Carlos Junior4-1
- WPFL World Tournament 10: 2025 Finals · Aug 21, 2025Submission · R2 · 3:44 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - 2025 PFL World Tournament 7: Semifinals · Jun 26, 2025Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - 2025 PFL World Tournament 4: First Round · Apr 30, 2025Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Light Heavyweight
- LProfessional Fighters League - PFL 5: 2024 Regular Season · Jun 20, 2024Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - PFL 2: 2024 Regular Season · Apr 11, 2024Submission · R1 · 4:34 · Light Heavyweight
Full record · 27 fightsShow less
- WProfessional Fighters League - PFL 4: 2022 Regular Season · Jun 16, 2022Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - PFL 1: 2022 Regular Season · Apr 19, 2022Submission · R1 · 0:29 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - 2021 Season PFL Championships · Oct 26, 2021Submission · R1 · 3:49 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - PFL 9: 2021 Playoffs · Aug 26, 2021Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Light Heavyweight
- NCProfessional Fighters League - PFL 5: 2021 Regular Season · Jun 16, 2021NC · R1 · 2:45 · Light Heavyweight
- WProfessional Fighters League - PFL 2: 2021 Regular Season · Apr 28, 2021Submission · R1 · 4:43 · Light Heavyweight
- LUFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2 · Jan 24, 2021Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs Gaethje · Sep 14, 2019Split Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- LUFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs Lee · May 18, 2019Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
- W
- WUFC Fight Night: Brunson vs Machida · Oct 29, 2017Submission · R1 · 4:30 · Middleweight
- W
- W
- WUFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Johnson · Sep 17, 2016Submission · R3 · 4:46 · Middleweight
- L
- NC
- W
- LUFC Fight Night: Machida vs Dollaway · Dec 20, 2014Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Light Heavyweight
- WUFC Fight Night: Munoz vs Mousasi · May 31, 2014Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Heavyweight
- WEdinaldo NovaesBahia Regional · Oct 26, 2013Submission
- WJerônimo OliveiraImperium MMA Pro 6 · Sep 14, 2013Submission · R1 · 1:41 · Light Heavyweight
- WCelivaldo PereiraBahia Regional · Jul 20, 2013Submission
Frequently asked questions
Who won Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior?
Brad Tavares defeated Antonio Carlos Junior by Unanimous Decision in round 3 (5:00) in the Middleweight bout of UFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2, held Sunday, January 24, 2021 at UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi. The judges scored it 30-27, 29-28, 30-27, Brad Tavares won the decision.
What were the judges' scorecards for Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior?
The judges scored it 30-27, 29-28, 30-27, Brad Tavares won the decision.
Was Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior a robbery?
Public scoring backed the judges: 94% of 48 fan cards scored it for Brad Tavares; 100% of 21 media scores picked Brad Tavares.