Junior Tafa
The Juggernaut
Australia
Next fight booked
Tafa will face off against Liu Ce at UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29, Marcel Dorff of Heavy on Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Tafa will look to get back on track following a first round TKO loss against Iwo Baraniewski in June. The 29-year-old fighter out of New Zealand is 3-6 during his time with the UFC facing off against UFC newcomer Liu Ce
Tafa will look to get back on track following a first round TKO loss against Iwo Baraniewski in June. The 29-year-old fighter out of New Zealand is 3-6 during his time with the UFC facing off against UFC newcomer Liu Ce
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Lasts 85 seconds in Vegas
Tafa lost to Iwo Baraniewski via TKO (strikes) at 1:25 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Tafa did not land a single strike in this fight, going 0-of-8 in the 85 seconds that it lasted. He ate a calf kick early on which seemed to give him some trouble before getting cracked in the same spot a second time. He crumbled to the mat and never recovered, with Baraniewski firing off unanswered blows until referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in. Tafa has struggled nearly his entire three-plus-year UFC run, but the company continues to stand by him. He's lost three of four dating back to last July.
Tafa did not land a single strike in this fight, going 0-of-8 in the 85 seconds that it lasted. He ate a calf kick early on which seemed to give him some trouble before getting cracked in the same spot a second time. He crumbled to the mat and never recovered, with Baraniewski firing off unanswered blows until referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in. Tafa has struggled nearly his entire three-plus-year UFC run, but the company continues to stand by him. He's lost three of four dating back to last July.
Scheduled against Baraniewski
Tafa will fight fellow light heavyweight Iwo Baraniewski at UFC Vegas 118 on June 6, according to Marcel Dorff of Heavy on Sports.
ANALYSIS
Even though Tafa had slipped a lot before knocking out Kevin Christian in early-May, he will waste little time trying to establish positive momentum. In just under six weeks, Tafa will have logged another fight, this time against an undefeated Baraniewski.
Even though Tafa had slipped a lot before knocking out Kevin Christian in early-May, he will waste little time trying to establish positive momentum. In just under six weeks, Tafa will have logged another fight, this time against an undefeated Baraniewski.
Earns much-needed win
Tafa defeated Kevin Christian via KO (strikes) at 2:42 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Perth, Australia.
ANALYSIS
Tafa's roster spt was almost certainly on the line after a woeful stretch in which he lost four of five fights, all via stoppage. To his credit, he was matched up softly here against Christian and took full advantage. It's a good thing Junior found the knockout midway through Round 1 because his lead leg was getting chewed up, and it's nearly impossible to believe he would have been able to survive for an extended period of time. Tafa has real power but his other attributes, most notably his poor grappling game and lack of cardio, are major issues. This is unlikely to be the start of a prolonged winning streak.
Tafa's roster spt was almost certainly on the line after a woeful stretch in which he lost four of five fights, all via stoppage. To his credit, he was matched up softly here against Christian and took full advantage. It's a good thing Junior found the knockout midway through Round 1 because his lead leg was getting chewed up, and it's nearly impossible to believe he would have been able to survive for an extended period of time. Tafa has real power but his other attributes, most notably his poor grappling game and lack of cardio, are major issues. This is unlikely to be the start of a prolonged winning streak.
Seeks big win
Tafa will take on Kevin Christian in a heavyweight bout at UFC at UFC Perth on May 2, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Tafa is in desperate need of a victory. He's currently sitting at 2-5 in the UFC, and is coming off consecutive losses, the last one at the hands of Billy Elekana. His opponent Christian, coincidently, is also coming off a loss to Elkana.
Tafa is in desperate need of a victory. He's currently sitting at 2-5 in the UFC, and is coming off consecutive losses, the last one at the hands of Billy Elekana. His opponent Christian, coincidently, is also coming off a loss to Elkana.
Taps out after fast start
Tafa lost to Billy Elekana via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:18 of Round 2 at UFC 325 on Saturday in Sydney, Australia.
ANALYSIS
Tafa has legitimate power, but his cardio is terrible and his grappling game even worse. He's going to be in massive trouble if he doesn't earn an early stoppage. He knocked down Elekana in Round 1 of this fight, but was unable to get him out of there. He became increasingly less effective as the bout progressed, and by the time Round 2 hit, Elekana was in charge. Tafa eventually gave up a takedown before being choked out. The 29-year-old Kiwi has lost two straight and four of five dating back to February 2024. He'll be lucky to avoid a release.
Tafa has legitimate power, but his cardio is terrible and his grappling game even worse. He's going to be in massive trouble if he doesn't earn an early stoppage. He knocked down Elekana in Round 1 of this fight, but was unable to get him out of there. He became increasingly less effective as the bout progressed, and by the time Round 2 hit, Elekana was in charge. Tafa eventually gave up a takedown before being choked out. The 29-year-old Kiwi has lost two straight and four of five dating back to February 2024. He'll be lucky to avoid a release.