Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
After this fight was called off due to injury at UFC on ESPN 60 due to injury, Brad Tavares and Park Jun-Yong finally get it on in the middleweight division
BRAD TAVARES VS PARK JUN-YONG FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 244? UK – the preliminary card starts at 9:00pm on Saturday October 12th, 2024, followed by the main card at 12:00am (Sunday) / USA – 4:00pm/7:00pm ET and 1:00pm/4:00pm PT
Where is UFC Fight Night 244? UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 244? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 244
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 244 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 244? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
For viewers in the United States, UFC Fight Night 244 will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
What time are Brad Tavares and Park Jun-Yong expected to walk out? 2:15am UK / 9:15pm US ET / 6:15pm US PT
UFC Fight Night 244 Main Card
Brandon Royval vs Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight)
Brad Tavares vs Park Jun-Yong (Middleweight)
Chidi Njokuani vs Jared Gooden (Welterweight)
Grant Dawson vs Rafa García (Lightweight)
Daniel Rodriguez vs Alex Morono (Welterweight)
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs Josh Fremd (Middleweight)
UFC Fight Night 244 Prelims
C.J. Vergara vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Jonathan Pearce vs Pat Sabatini (Featherweight)
Themba Gorimbo vs Niko Price (Welterweight)
Sean Sharaf vs Junior Tafa (Heavyweight)
Julia Polastri vs Cory McKenna (Women’s Strawweight)
Daniel Argueta vs Cody Haddon (Bantamweight)
Clayton Carpenter vs Lucas Rocha (Flyweight)
BRAD TAVARES: HAWAIIAN STAR LOOKING TO STAY RELEVANT
Brad Tavares (20-9) is showing signs of slowing down having lost three of his last four and suffering two TKOs in his last three fights. His only win during that time came against a struggling Chris Weidman but Tavares has to be concerned at the manner of his losses of late. The TKO defeat at the hands of Gregory Rodriguez and to Bruno Silva suggest his punch resistance is deteriorating and that may be why this match has been made against a fighter not known for his striking power.
PARK JUN-YONG: KOREAN STAR AIMING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM SPLIT DECISION LOSS
33-year-old South Korean star Park Yun-Wong is coming off a split decision loss to Andre Muniz last time out which snapped his four-fight winning streak. The well-rounded Park had seven wins from his eight previous fights and had some really good momentum behind him in the middleweight division. He was the one not medically cleared to take this fight in July but he is now fit to take on Tavares.
BRAD TAVARES VS PARK JUN-YONG PREDICTION
This is an interesting fight in the UFC’s middleweight division as both Brad Tavares and Park Yun-Wong really do need to win this fight to stay relevant in the division. The urgency is arguably greater for Tavares given his recent record but he will welcome facing a fighter that does not possess big knockout power.
Tavares has won 13 of his 20 fights by decision and he has not stopped anybody since 2018. His only likely route to victory here is on the scorecards.
To do that, he will have to edge the stand-up but also handle Park’s attempts to dominate the Octagon control. The Korean does not mind standing but he is dangerous on the ground too with his last three wins all coming via submission.
Tavares has the greater desperation about him but it is hard to make a case for him here to really get behind. Our preference is that this goes to the judges’ scorecards and if it does, we marginally prefer Park to get the W.
PREDICTION: FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE