Last fight
UFC 297
Win
Sidey vs Taveras
Jan. 20, 2024
Stats & Records
5
Wins by Knockout
3
Wins by Submission
5
First Round Finishes
Significant Strikes include all strikes at distance, plus power strikes in the clinch and on the ground.
Striking accuracy
- Sig. Strikes Landed
- 83
- Sig. Strikes Attempted
- 183
- Sig. Str. Defense is the percentage of significant strikes attempted against a fighter that do not land.
- Takedown defense is the percentage of takedowns attempted against a fighter that do not land.
- Knockdown Avg. is the average number of knockdowns per 15 Minutes window.
Sig. Str. by target
Info
Status
Active
Place of Birth
New York, United States
Fighting style
MMA
Age
30
Height
68.00
Weight
139.80
Octagon Debut
Jan. 20, 2024
Reach
70.00
Leg reach
39.00
- Pro since 2019
- Five wins by KO, three by submission (2 RNC, guillotine)
- Has won six of his last seven
- Five first round finishes
- Holds first-round wins over UFC vet Martin Day and PRIDE vet Charles Bennett
- Reported 6-1 amateur record
- Origin of nickname: “The entertaining style of my fighting is what caught people’s attention and coined the nickname.”
UFC 297 (1/20/24) Taveras won a three round split decision over Serhiy Sidey
Dana White's Contender Series, Season 7
Episode ten (10/10/23) Taveras stopped Cortavious Romious via strikes at :29 of the first round
Episode five (9/5/23) Taveras was stopped by Serhiy Sidey via strikes at 2:26 of the first round
When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training when I was 15 to stay out of trouble. I started to get very good at it and realized I can make a career out of it and take care of my family. Once I started to see how good I was at it, I decided to take it more serious.
What ranks and titles have you held? I've won multiple amateur boxing and MMA belts coming up. I am the current pro bantamweight champion for Combat Night MMA.
Do you have any heroes? Didn't really have any heroes growing up, never really looked up to anybody. I would say my younger brother, after he passed, became my hero. He carried me through certain situations, and I knew it was only his and God’s will that carried me through certain situations in my life.
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means everything to me! Everything I've been through and worked through has led me up to this very moment. It all started with just a dream that seems so far-fetched where I come from. So, for me to fight in the UFC is the stamp that dreams do come true, no matter where you from or what you've been through. As long as you put in the hard work and dedicate yourself to your craft and what you believe in, your dream will become reality.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I dropped out of high school. I realized what I wanted to do in life had nothing to do with school.
What was your job before you started fighting? I only had one job before fighting and it was when I was very young. It was a warehouse job and I didn't like working for others, so I decided I'd work for myself and start fighting to become my own boss.
Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? I won the USA Boxing PAL tournament. Also won the ammy belt for Combat Night MMA and defended it multiple times before going pro.
Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Winning my professional belt for Combat Night and getting an opportunity to fight on the Contender Series.
Favorite grappling technique: I love jiu jitsu
Favorite Striking technique: I love boxing.
