OTHER VITALS
CAREER STATUS: Prospect
WALKOUT THEME: Various
SPONSORS: N/A
FIGHTING STYLE
PRIMARY: Muay Thai
SECONDARY: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
STANCE: Orthodox
STRENGTHS
+ Precise and aggressive striking
+ Excellent clinch control and knees
+ Resilient and mentally tough
WEAKNESSES
– Struggles with elite-level wrestlers
– Limited head movement on the feet
– Tends to gas out in later rounds
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
#1 Punches: 16
#2 Kicks: 18
#3 Clinch Striking: 19
#4 Clinch Grappling: 16
#5 Strength: 14
#6 Agility: 13
#7 Dodging: 11
#8 Takedowns: 10
#9 Takedown Defense: 13
#10 Heart: 19
#11 Ground & Pound: 12
#12 Ground Game: 14
#13 Submissions: 15
#14 Submission Defense: 14
#15 Conditioning: 13
#16 Toughness: 15
#17 Control: 12
#18 Aggressiveness: 18
#19 KO Resistance: 16
CONTRACT
4 FIGHTS – $50,000 (NON-EXCLUSIVE)
(1 FIGHTS LEFT)
CAREER EARNINGS: $180,000
ACCOLADES
CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
N/A
HONORS: 0
N/A
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: 0
N/A
PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT: 0
N/A
BACKSTORY
Vanessa Tavares, born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, has been a fierce competitor since she first stepped into a martial arts gym at the age of 12. Starting in traditional Muay Thai, Tavares developed a knack for sharp, punishing strikes and relentless pressure. Her reputation as a tenacious striker made her a standout on the Portuguese regional scene, where she quickly earned a 7-0 record. This early success caught the attention of Everest MMA, the developmental league for Union GP.
However, her initial run in Everest MMA didn’t live up to the hype. The step up in competition exposed holes in her ground game and conditioning, leading to a lackluster 2-3 stint. Critics questioned her potential to make it on the big stage, and Vanessa found herself back on the regional circuit, disheartened but determined to improve.
Tavares returned to Portugal, where she dedicated herself to refining her weaknesses, particularly her grappling and overall conditioning. Training with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts and incorporating more wrestling into her game, she earned her way back into contention with four straight finishes on the European regional scene, bringing her record to 11-4.
Now, with a new level of confidence and a more well-rounded skill set, Tavares is poised to make her return to the big leagues. Ready to prove that her first stint in Everest MMA was merely a growing phase, she’s more determined than ever to compete with the world’s elite and establish herself as a top contender in the Union GP Bantamweight division.
