Early career Tavares made his professional MMA debut in November 2003. He amassed an undefeated record of 10–0 in his first three years in the sport before being signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Lightweight Tavares entered the UFC with an undefeated record and was highly regarded. Tavares outgrappled fellow UFC-newcomer
Naoyuki Kotani to a unanimous decision, followed by a dominant submission victory over
Jason Black. Tavares fought perennial contender
Tyson Griffin to a unanimous decision loss, the first of his professional career, at
UFC 76. They would win
Fight of the Night award honors for their performance. but Tavares was forced off the card with an elbow injury. He was replaced by
Waylon Lowe. Tavares was set to face
Willamy Freire at
UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko taking place August 1, 2010. However, on July 20, 2010, Freire withdrew because of an injury, forcing the bout to be cancelled. Tavares faced UFC newcomer Pat Audinwood on September 25, 2010, at
UFC 119, replacing an injured
Aaron Riley. Tavares defeated Audinwood via submission (guillotine choke) in the first round. Tavares then faced
Shane Roller on March 3, 2011, at
UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann. He lost the fight via KO in the second round. Though Tavares hurt Roller in the first round, he was unable to finish him. During the second round, Tavares was caught by a straight right from Roller that knocked him out. Tavares defeated
Spencer Fisher via second-round TKO on August 27, 2011, at
UFC 134. Tavares faced
Sam Stout on January 14, 2012, at
UFC 142. He won the fight via unanimous decision after utilizing takedowns with his top control for most of the fight. Tavares was expected to face
Tony Ferguson on May 5, 2012, at
UFC on Fox 3, replacing an injured
Dennis Hallman. However, Tavares was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by
Michael Johnson. Tavares was expected to face
Dennis Hallman on September 1, 2012, at
UFC 151. However, after
UFC 151 was cancelled, Tavares/Hallman was then rescheduled to October 5, 2012, at
UFC on FX 5. Just prior to the UFC on FX 5 weigh ins, Dennis Hallman alerted officials and Tavares that he would miss weight by 7 pounds. Tavares was given the option to take the fight anyway at a
catchweight. He stated he would only fight if Hallman could make it within 3 lbs of the 156 lb. limit. Hallman couldn't make it in the allowed time and so the bout was cancelled. Tavares next faced the undefeated
Khabib Nurmagomedov on January 19, 2013, at
UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping. He lost the fight via knockout early in the first round. Following his loss to Nurmagomedov, it was announced that Tavares had tested positive for the banned substance
drostanolone during his post-fight drug test and, subsequently, was suspended for nine months retroactive to January 19. Tavares was expected to face
Quinn Mulhern on November 9, 2013, at
UFC Fight Night 32. However, Mulhern pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by
Justin Salas. Tavares won the fight via submission in the first round.
Move to Featherweight Tavares was expected to face promotional newcomer
Zubaira Tukhugov in a featherweight bout on February 15, 2014, at
UFC Fight Night 36. However, Tavares was forced out of the bout citing a rib injury and replaced by Douglas Silva de Andrade. Tavares was expected to face
Tom Niinimäki on May 31, 2014, at
UFC Fight Night 41. However, Tavares pulled out of the bout citing another injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer
Niklas Bäckström. In his eventual featherweight debut, Tavares faced
Robbie Peralta on August 16, 2014, at
UFC Fight Night 47. Tavares won the fight via submission in the first round after completely dominating Peralta on the ground. The win also earned him his first
Performance of the Night bonus award. Tavares was expected to face
Nik Lentz in a rematch on February 14, 2015, at
UFC Fight Night 60. However, Tavares pulled out of the bout in late January citing yet another injury. Tavares was expected to face
Zubaira Tukhugov on June 6, 2015, at
UFC Fight Night 68. However, Tukhugov was replaced by
Brian Ortega. Tavares lost the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the third round. Despite the loss, Tavares was awarded his fourth
Fight of the Night bonus award. Tavares faced
Clay Guida on November 7, 2015, at
UFC Fight Night 77. He won the fight with a quick submission in the first round. The win also earned Tavares his second
Performance of the Night bonus award. Tavares next faced
Doo Ho Choi on July 8, 2016, at
The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale Tavares lost the fight via KO in the first round. Afterwards, the promotion did not re-sign Tavares, making him a free agent.
Post-UFC career After being released from the UFC, Tavares signed with Aspera FC and faced Mauricio Machado at Aspera FC 49 on February 18, 2017.
Professional Fighters League He was then signed to participate the Lightweight division of the
inaugural season of PFL. His regular season begun with facing Robert Watley at
PFL 2 on June 21, 2018. In the second round, Watley unintentionally kicked Tavares in the groin rendering him unable to continue after the five minute recovery time. Contrary to the unified rules, Watley was declared as the winner. In the quarter-finals Tavares faced Islam Mamedov at
PFL 9 on October 13, 2018. He lost the bout via unanimous decision and was eliminated from the playoffs. However, Mamedov could not continue to the semi-finals and Tavares was brought to replace him against
Rashid Magomedov. He is next expected to face Jean Carlos Liebl at Gladiator CF 54 on February 6, 2021. Then, he is also expected to face Mauricio Ariel for the Super Lightweight Championship at Inside Fighters' League 1 on April 11, 2021.
Return to the UFC Tavares was signed to UFC as a ringside doctor in 2025. ==Personal life==