Fight news: Brad Tavares collides with Marc-Andre Barriault in Oklahoma City for UFC history

PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 06: Brad Tavares prepares for his middleweight fight against Robert Bryczek of Polandduring the UFC Fight Night event at The Accor Arena on September 06, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Middleweights are headed to OKC.

MMAmania.com confirmed with multiple sources today (Wed., April 29, 2026) that longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight staple Brad Tavares will face Canada’s Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC Oklahoma City on Sat., July 18, 2026, inside Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Tavares (21-12) enters the matchup with history within reach. The veteran is just one win away from surpassing Michael Bisping for the most victories in UFC Middleweight history. Both fighters are currently tied at 16 wins at 185 pounds.

He’ll look to rebound after falling short in his last two outings. Most recently, Tavares dropped a competitive decision to Eryk Anders, who retired following the bout. Prior to that, he suffered a knockout loss to Robert Bryczek at UFC Paris.

Despite his longevity, Tavares has never earned a “Performance of the Night” bonus across 27 UFC appearances. He also shares the record for most decision wins (14) with , further highlighting his grind-heavy style.