Justin Tafa
Bad Man
Australia
No longer on UFC roster
Tafa was released from the UFC following his UFC Perth withdrawal in late-September, Mike Heck of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Tafa was best described as heavyweight roster depth after going 4-5 in his UFC run that dated back to 2019. While he was able to fill in for his brother Junior and save a fight a few years back, he has multiple withdrawals, and even a weight miss, on his register. The UFC decided it had had enough after the latest withdrawal, but 31 years old, there's still theoretically room for Justin to fight his way back to the roster via the regional scene.
Tafa was best described as heavyweight roster depth after going 4-5 in his UFC run that dated back to 2019. While he was able to fill in for his brother Junior and save a fight a few years back, he has multiple withdrawals, and even a weight miss, on his register. The UFC decided it had had enough after the latest withdrawal, but 31 years old, there's still theoretically room for Justin to fight his way back to the roster via the regional scene.
Fight Log
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More Fantasy News
Fight called off
Tafa's fight with Louie Sutherland was called off Friday, according to Submission Radio.
ANALYSIS
Tafa came down with an illness and was unable to give it a go. Tafa was slated to face Jhonata Diniz on June 28, but that bout also fell through. His wait to attempt to snap his two-fight losing streak will continue.
Tafa came down with an illness and was unable to give it a go. Tafa was slated to face Jhonata Diniz on June 28, but that bout also fell through. His wait to attempt to snap his two-fight losing streak will continue.
Taking on newcomer Sutherland
Tafa will face Louie Sutherland in a heavyweight bout at UFC Perth on Sept. 27, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Tafa was slated to face Jhonata Diniz on June 28, but that bout fell through. He'll get a chance to snap his two-fight losing streak against a UFC newcomer in Louie Southerland, who most recently fought professionally in the Levels Fight League.
Tafa was slated to face Jhonata Diniz on June 28, but that bout fell through. He'll get a chance to snap his two-fight losing streak against a UFC newcomer in Louie Southerland, who most recently fought professionally in the Levels Fight League.
No longer facing Diniz
Tafa (undisclosed) will no longer take on Jhonata Diniz at UFC 317 on June 28, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
The reasons for Tafa's withdrawal are unclear, but he's already been removed from the card. It's uncertain when he'll be able to step into the octagon again. Diniz will face Alvin Hines instead.
The reasons for Tafa's withdrawal are unclear, but he's already been removed from the card. It's uncertain when he'll be able to step into the octagon again. Diniz will face Alvin Hines instead.
Ready to face Jhonata Diniz
Tafa will take on Jhonata Diniz in a heavyweight bout at UFC 317 on June 28, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tafa lost to Tallison Teixeira via TKO (strikes) at 0:35 of Round 1 at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 this year, but he lasted only 35 seconds in that fight, so he'll aim to deliver a better showing in this one. Diniz is also coming off a loss -- the first of his career -- so both fighters will be looking for revenge in this one. Tafa is now 4-5 (1 NC) in his first 10 UFC bouts, but based on his resume, he doesn't look like the odds-on favorite ahead of this matchup versus Diniz.
Tafa lost to Tallison Teixeira via TKO (strikes) at 0:35 of Round 1 at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 this year, but he lasted only 35 seconds in that fight, so he'll aim to deliver a better showing in this one. Diniz is also coming off a loss -- the first of his career -- so both fighters will be looking for revenge in this one. Tafa is now 4-5 (1 NC) in his first 10 UFC bouts, but based on his resume, he doesn't look like the odds-on favorite ahead of this matchup versus Diniz.
Lasts 35 seconds at UFC 312
Tafa lost to Tallison Teixeira via TKO (strikes) at 0:35 of Round 1 at UFC 312 on Saturday in Sydney, Australia.
ANALYSIS
There's not much to break down here from a technical standpoint. Tafa managed to stuff an immediate takedown attempt but was forced up against the fence in the process. He ate one huge elbow which forced him to his knees and a few follow-up shots ended the show. Tafa was upset with the stoppage of referee Rich Mitchell, but he was turtled up and not responding. Tafa is now 4-5 (1 NC) in his first 10 UFC bouts, with the victories coming over Austen Lane, Parker Porter, Harry Hunsucker and Juan Adams. There's absolutely nothing to see here.
There's not much to break down here from a technical standpoint. Tafa managed to stuff an immediate takedown attempt but was forced up against the fence in the process. He ate one huge elbow which forced him to his knees and a few follow-up shots ended the show. Tafa was upset with the stoppage of referee Rich Mitchell, but he was turtled up and not responding. Tafa is now 4-5 (1 NC) in his first 10 UFC bouts, with the victories coming over Austen Lane, Parker Porter, Harry Hunsucker and Juan Adams. There's absolutely nothing to see here.