Junior Tafa
The Juggernaut
Australia
Added to UFC 325
Tafa will take on Billy Elekana in a heavyweight matchup at UFC 325 on Jan. 31, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tafa has lost three of his last four but is still around to provide roster depth in a relatively thin heavyweight division. He was last scheduled to fight at UFC Perth in September, but the fight was scrapped late due to undisclosed reasons. He now draws Elekana, who is on a two-fight winning streak and owns a two-inch reach advantage.
Tafa has lost three of his last four but is still around to provide roster depth in a relatively thin heavyweight division. He was last scheduled to fight at UFC Perth in September, but the fight was scrapped late due to undisclosed reasons. He now draws Elekana, who is on a two-fight winning streak and owns a two-inch reach advantage.
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Removed from card
Tafa's fight against Ibo Aslan at UFC Perth on Saturday has been canceled after Tafa suffered an injury.
ANALYSIS
Tafa was in line for another opportunity to fight at light heavyweight, but the bout has been called off at the last minute. The nature and severity of Tafa's injury is unknown at this time.
Tafa was in line for another opportunity to fight at light heavyweight, but the bout has been called off at the last minute. The nature and severity of Tafa's injury is unknown at this time.
Another fight at light heavyweight
Tafa is scheduled to compete against Ibo Aslan in a light heavyweight fight at UFC Perth on Sept. 27, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Tafa no-showed his UFC light heavyweight debut, submitting to Tuco Tokkos via arm-triangle choke. The former will give LHW a second chance by taking on Aslan, 0-2 in 2025.
Tafa no-showed his UFC light heavyweight debut, submitting to Tuco Tokkos via arm-triangle choke. The former will give LHW a second chance by taking on Aslan, 0-2 in 2025.
No-shows light heavyweight debut
Tafa lost to Tuco Tokkos via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:25 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Nashville.
ANALYSIS
Making his light heavyweight debut as a -180 favorite, Tafa looked awful. He had a couple big moments on the feet, but his complete inability to stop a takedown or defend himself on the mat was his ultimate undoing. He allowed Tokkos to land five takedowns on nine attempts. Tuco made a ton of positional errors on the mat, but Tafa couldn't take advantage. Like his older brother, Junior is a knockout-or-bust brawler with about a round of cardio, if that. With a 1-3 record in his past four bouts, there's a non-zero chance the UFC could decide to move on.
Making his light heavyweight debut as a -180 favorite, Tafa looked awful. He had a couple big moments on the feet, but his complete inability to stop a takedown or defend himself on the mat was his ultimate undoing. He allowed Tokkos to land five takedowns on nine attempts. Tuco made a ton of positional errors on the mat, but Tafa couldn't take advantage. Like his older brother, Junior is a knockout-or-bust brawler with about a round of cardio, if that. With a 1-3 record in his past four bouts, there's a non-zero chance the UFC could decide to move on.
Re-booked against Tokkos
Tafa will take on Tuco Tokkos in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC Nashville on July 12, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tafa was originally scheduled for a matchup against Ateba Gautier at this event, but the fight was scrapped for undisclosed reasons. He now draws Tokkos, an opponent he was originally scheduled for in May, but the fight ended up falling through. The two will finally get it on here, where Tafa will look to win back-to-back fights for the first time under the UFC banner. His opponent, Tokkos, has also lost his two lone UFC bouts.
Tafa was originally scheduled for a matchup against Ateba Gautier at this event, but the fight was scrapped for undisclosed reasons. He now draws Tokkos, an opponent he was originally scheduled for in May, but the fight ended up falling through. The two will finally get it on here, where Tafa will look to win back-to-back fights for the first time under the UFC banner. His opponent, Tokkos, has also lost his two lone UFC bouts.
Fight scrapped
Tafa is not scheduled to compete against Ateba Gautier at UFC Nashville on July 12, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Tafa was expected to make his light heavyweight debut against Gautier at UFC Nashville. But now, the latter is scheduled for UFC 318 a week later. That means the Tafa-Gautier fight has been scrapped, and it is unclear when Tafa will compete next and what division he will be in.
Tafa was expected to make his light heavyweight debut against Gautier at UFC Nashville. But now, the latter is scheduled for UFC 318 a week later. That means the Tafa-Gautier fight has been scrapped, and it is unclear when Tafa will compete next and what division he will be in.