UFC on FOX 11 results, photos: Yoel Romero gets dominant sweep of Brad Tavares

ORLANDO – There would be no last-minute knockout this time for Yoel Romero – just steady dominance of Brad Tavares.

Romero showed more urgency in the cage and also put his Olympic-caliber wrestling skills on display to earn his fourth straight UFC win.

The welterweight bout opened up the main card of today’s UFC on FOX 11 event at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. It aired on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The final scores were 30-27 three times for Romero, who never let Tavares get in the fight. Shortly after the opening bell, Tavares, who’d previously won five straight, was rag-dolled to the mat by his explosive opponent. Tavares fought his way back to his feet, only to be thrown again to the canvas.

Romero spent less time headhunting than his previous two bouts, which he casually walked down knockout wins in the third frame. He did, however, intercept Tavares with an elbow that opened a bloody cut. Tavares tried to chase down combinations in the final five minutes but was again put on the mat.

“God helped me with this win tonight,” Romero said. “Everything I do is possible because of Him. (American Top Team) was great in helping me get ready for this fight. We all looked very impressive tonight and were all able to win. We are all brothers at that gym. I’m excited about my next opportunity in the UFC.”

Romero (8-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), an Olympic silver medalist wrestler in his native Cuba, remains unbeaten in the octagon with his only setback a knockout from Rafael Cavalcante under the now defunct Strikeforce banner. Tavares (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) just his second professional setback in 14 fights.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 11 results include:

• Yoel Romero def. Brad Tavares via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Thiago Alves def. Seth Baczynski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jorge Masvidal def. Pat Healy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Alex White def. Estevan Payan via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:28
• Caio Magalhaes def. Luke Zachrich via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:44
• Jordan Mein def. Hernani Perpetuo via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Dustin Ortiz def. Ray Borg via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Mirsad Bektic def. Chas Skelly via majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)
• Derrick Lewis def. Jack May via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:23

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 11, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan and Matt Erickson contributed to this report on-site in Orlando.