Rivalries: Justin Tafa

Justin Tafa, a New Zealand-born fighter of Samoan descent who now calls Australia home, embodies the Maori spirit of being strong, firm and steadfast. Despite their minority representation, Samoan fighters have shined brightly inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The way Tafa sees it, the country itself has yet to fully catch the mixed martial arts bug.

Tafa entered the UFC amidst considerable fanfare, buoyed by his early-career reputation for knockout power. Despite only three professional bouts under his belt, he was given a shot to compete under the UFC banner. While his debut was marred by defeat, he has come a long way since. Now entrusted with the mission to reciprocate the unspoken debt to his brother, Junior Tafa, who fearlessly stepped in as a replacement to take on Rogerio de Lima at UFC 298, “Bad Man” honors the commitment by replacing his injured sibling to face Karl Williams at UFC on ESPN 53 this Saturday in Las Vegas.

Ahead of the Tafa’s upcoming clash at the UFC Apex, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Jeremy Joiner

Tafa got his first and only taste of championship gold against Joiner when the pair locked horns to compete for the Xtreme Fighting Championship heavyweight title at XCF 36 back in July 2018. Tafa won the bout in 28 seconds of the first round and walked away with the XFC heavyweight strap on his waist.

Juan Adams

The 30-year-old Tafa made up for the aforementioned forgetful UFC debut in his second appearance, as he blasted Adams with punches to secure a technical knockout win, with the fight ending at 1:59 in the opening round. Wise to his opponent’s offense, Tafa avoided the long reach and lunching punches. He tagged his opponent with short left punches and exploded with a thunderous right hook followed by a crisp uppercut that sent his foe crashing to the canvas.

Parker Porter

Tafa was a featured attraction at UFC 284, occupying the second bout on the pay-per-view main card in a heavyweight clash against Porter in Perth, Australia. It took him just 66 seconds to find his opponent’s chin, countering Porter’s attempt for an overhand right with a sharp left hand and a follow-up uppercut, as he sauntered away with the big win.

Austen Lane

Tafa’s career has had its fair share of rivalries, none more riveting than his two-fight encounter with Lane. Their first showdown was marred by controversy after the bout resulted in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke by Lane. The anticipation surrounding the inconclusive clash only intensified as they pair prepared to renew the rivalry on the grand stage of UFC 293 in Sydney. It did not take long for “Bad Man” to record another highlight reel-worthy finish. After a bit of a feeling-out process, Tafa countered Lane with a thudding right hook, followed by a straight left that sent the ex-football player crashing to the canvas in a daze and forced referee Jim Perdios to stop the bout at the 1:22 mark of Round 1. The victory also earned Tafa his first “Performance of the Night” honors in the UFC.