Tuco Tokkos
England
Finally earns first UFC win
Tokkos defeated Junior Tafa via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:25 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Nashville.
ANALYSIS
A loser in each of his first two UFC bouts and clearly fighting for his job, Tokkos and the team at Kill Cliff FC put forth a brilliant game plan to take advantage of Tafa's greatest weakness. Tokkos fired off a whopping nine takedown attempts, landing five of them. He was far from flawless from a positional standpoint on the mat, but he was certainly better than Tafa in that area. Tuco racked up 7:51 worth of control time and finally found the submission via arm-triangle choke late in Round 2. There's an overwhelming chance this will go down as the highlight of Tokkos' UFC run, but at least he's seemingly guaranteed himself another fight with the company after this win.
A loser in each of his first two UFC bouts and clearly fighting for his job, Tokkos and the team at Kill Cliff FC put forth a brilliant game plan to take advantage of Tafa's greatest weakness. Tokkos fired off a whopping nine takedown attempts, landing five of them. He was far from flawless from a positional standpoint on the mat, but he was certainly better than Tafa in that area. Tuco racked up 7:51 worth of control time and finally found the submission via arm-triangle choke late in Round 2. There's an overwhelming chance this will go down as the highlight of Tokkos' UFC run, but at least he's seemingly guaranteed himself another fight with the company after this win.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Rescheduled against Junior Tafa
Tokkos will now take on Junior Tafa in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC Nashville on July 12, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
This is a bout that was originally scheduled for May but scrapped for undisclosed reasons. Tafa was also scheduled for a separate opponent on the Nashville card, but that fight fell through as well, opening the door for a re-booking. Tokkos likely needs this win to save his job, as he has dropped back-to-back fights to start his official UFC run. Tafa hasn't been a whole lot better, going 2-3 in the UFC but at least coming off a win.
This is a bout that was originally scheduled for May but scrapped for undisclosed reasons. Tafa was also scheduled for a separate opponent on the Nashville card, but that fight fell through as well, opening the door for a re-booking. Tokkos likely needs this win to save his job, as he has dropped back-to-back fights to start his official UFC run. Tafa hasn't been a whole lot better, going 2-3 in the UFC but at least coming off a win.
Won't be facing Tafa
Tokkos won't face Junior Tafa at UFC Des Moines on May 3 due to undisclosed reasons, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tafa has been ruled out of the event, but the UFC is trying to find a replacement to keep Tokkos on the card. Tokkos is still waiting for the first UFC win of his career.
Tafa has been ruled out of the event, but the UFC is trying to find a replacement to keep Tokkos on the card. Tokkos is still waiting for the first UFC win of his career.
Next challenger steps in
Tokkos will face Junior Tafa in a heavyweight fight at UFC Des Moines on May 3, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tokkos is coming off another defeat after losing via unanimous decision against Navajo Sterling. Tuco has started off his UFC career with two losses and will be seeking for his first victory against Junior Tafa, who is coming off a win, albeit not in a dominant fashion.
Tokkos is coming off another defeat after losing via unanimous decision against Navajo Sterling. Tuco has started off his UFC career with two losses and will be seeking for his first victory against Junior Tafa, who is coming off a win, albeit not in a dominant fashion.
Still searching for first UFC win
Tokkos lost to Navajo Sterling via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Tampa, Florida.
ANALYSIS
Tokkos tapped out to Oumar Sy in less than four minutes in his UFC debut in May. He got another chance here against Stirling and didn't show much, albeit as a +750 underdog, by far the largest on the entire card. Tokkos was credited with three successful takedowns, but did little with his positional advantage and was dominated in the striking exchanges between the two. The end result was another lopsided defeat. The UFC typically gives fighters three chances before moving on, but Tokkos may be an exception. He simply hasn't shown enough to date.
Tokkos tapped out to Oumar Sy in less than four minutes in his UFC debut in May. He got another chance here against Stirling and didn't show much, albeit as a +750 underdog, by far the largest on the entire card. Tokkos was credited with three successful takedowns, but did little with his positional advantage and was dominated in the striking exchanges between the two. The end result was another lopsided defeat. The UFC typically gives fighters three chances before moving on, but Tokkos may be an exception. He simply hasn't shown enough to date.
Lands on Tampa card in December
Tokkos is set to face off against Navajo Stirling in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tokkos will look to redeem himself against Stirling after losing his UFC debut to Oumar Sy via submission (face crank) in Round 1 on May 18. The 34-year-old holds a record of 10-4-0, and he is 3-2-0 in his last five contests. Unlike his last fight, which he took just days in advance, Tokkos will be able to show off what he can do with a full training camp under his belt versus Stirling.
Tokkos will look to redeem himself against Stirling after losing his UFC debut to Oumar Sy via submission (face crank) in Round 1 on May 18. The 34-year-old holds a record of 10-4-0, and he is 3-2-0 in his last five contests. Unlike his last fight, which he took just days in advance, Tokkos will be able to show off what he can do with a full training camp under his belt versus Stirling.