Tavares-Baroni Official for UFC 125

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 semi-finalist Brad Tavares will meet the well-traveled Phil Baroni (Pictured) in a preliminary matchup at UFC 125 “Resolution” on Jan. 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ten bouts are now official for the event, which will air live on pay-per-view.

Undefeated in six professional appearances, Tavares made his promotional debut at “The Ultimate Fighter” 11 Finale in June and defeated Seth Baczynski by unanimous decision. The 22-year-old Hawaiian, who cut his teeth inside the X-1 and Icon Sport promotions, has finished five of his first six foes, four of them inside one round.

Baroni will carry a two-fight losing streak into the match. The 34-year-old Long Island, N.Y., native last appeared at UFC 106 in November 2009, when he dropped a unanimous decision to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 winner Amir Sadollah at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Baroni has not won a fight inside the Octagon since his highlight-reel knockout against Dave Menne at UFC 39 more than eight years ago. Wins over Japanese standouts Ikuhisa Minowa, Yuki Kondo and Ryo Chonan anchor his resume, which includes nine of 13 victories by knockout or technical knockout.

A lightweight title bout pairing champion Frankie Edgar with undefeated challenger Gray Maynard will headline UFC 125. In addition, former Pride Fighting Championships lightweight titleholder Takanori Gomi will square off with Clay Guida, and one-time WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann will collide with Chris Leben.

UFC 125 “Resolution”
Saturday, Jan. 1
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas

UFC Lightweight Championship
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard

Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi
Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann
Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera
Jeremy Stephens vs. Marcus Davis
Mike Thomas Brown vs. Diego Nunes
Daniel Roberts vs. Greg Soto
Phil Baroni vs. Brad Tavares
Antonio McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann
* Josh Grispi vs. Dustin Poirier

* Not Official