Why UFC Fight Night 32's Thiago Tavares fled to Hawaii, B.J. Penn's gym

There’s a good reason Thiago Tavares fled from his native Brazil to Hawaii, where he trained with UFC champ B.J. Penn at his UFC Gym affiliate.

Tavares was on a 3-1 run, which included a pair of wins over veterans Spencer Fisher and Sam Stout, before a knockout loss to fast-rising lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov in January. But that was just the beginning of his problems.

Tavares, a 13-fight UFC veteran, failed a post-fight drug test due to the anabolic steroid drostanolone and earned a nine-month suspension. That left the Brazilian ineligible to compete at UFC on FX 8, which marked the organization’s debut in Tavares’ home state of Santa Catarina. The event took place in May at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul with a host of other Brazilians, but Tavares wasn’t one of them.

“That was a horrible feeling,” Tavares, who returns tonight at UFC Fight Night 32, told MMAjunkie.com. “Jaragua do Sul neighbors my home, and I was the first MMA fighter from our state of Santa Catarina. I started at 17 years of age. I was also the first fighter from Santa Catarina to join the UFC. Later, others joined like Junior dos Santos.

“So when the UFC came to town, it was a dream come true – except I wasn’t in that dream. So it wasn’t easy. That’s exactly why I left for Hawaii. When the card took place, I wasn’t there. I was in Hawaii. I distanced myself on purpose.”

Tavares (17-5-1 MMA, 7-5-1 UFC) hopes his trip pays off when he meets Justin Salas (11-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) tonight at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Goias, Brazil. Their UFC Fight Night 32 bout is one of five that streams on MMAjunkie.com ahead of the FOX Sports 1-televised main card.

With a card light on big-name talent, Tavares usually would be a surefire main-card competitor, especially when fighting in his home country. But coming off the loss and the failed drug test, a win is essential to earn back his standing. However, he feels both prepared and refreshed. He said Penn is a big reason why.

“It was an honor to get to know B.J.” he said. “Besides being a champion in the octagon, he’s also a very humble man. He treated me very well. I wish all champions were like him. I had a great experience, and I plan to return, to train there again and enjoy that beautiful state.”

Now, though, his focus is on Brazil. In addition to his own career, he’s grooming current and future UFC fighters. He recently opened another gym, a 9,000-square-foot facility. And the 28-year-old wants to prove its worth.

“I was able to get two of my athletes in the UFC, Kevin Souza and Ivan Jorge,” he said. “My team is doing great. We’re very united. We also have Nazareno Malegarie, who I believe will be the next one to sign with the UFC. Since I came back from Hawaii, I started training hard with my training partners since they all had fights scheduled.”

Tonight’s fight will play a huge role not only in Tavares’ career, but his team’s, as well. Getting back in the win column is crucial, but the three-time UFC “Fight of the Night” winner feels his true comeback could come in February, when the organization returns to Jaragua do Sul for a UFC Fight Night event.

Tavares isn’t about to miss another opportunity.

“If there is such a thing as successful comeback, that would be my successful comeback,” he said. “It would be categorically perfect if I can win [tonight] and then fight in my own backyard in February. If I could wish for anything in the world, it would be to fight there this February. I grew up on the island of Florianopolis, and I am sure the entire city would be present at that card.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 32, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.