Junior Tafa - News & Rumors - UFC | FOX Sports

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.

Impact 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.

FEBRUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Removed from card Tafa's fight against Ibo Aslan at UFC Perth on Saturday has been canceled after Tafa suffered an injury.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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.

JULY 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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.

JUNE 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Fight scrapped Tafa is not scheduled to compete against Ateba Gautier at UFC Nashville on July 12, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.

Impact 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.

JUNE 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Set for octagon return Tafa will face Ateba Gautier in a light heavyweight bout at UFC on ESPN 70 in Nashville on July 12, Danny Segura of MMAJunkie reports.

Impact Tafa will face Gautier in a new class, as he'll go down a division and will try the light heavyweight level. Tafa's most recent fight ended in a win over Sean Sharaf on Oct. 12, 2024, and he owns a 2-3 record at the UFC level.

MAY 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Won't face Tokkos Tafa won't face Tuco Tokkos at UFC Des Moines on May 3 due to undisclosed reasons, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.

Impact Tafa is the one who's ruled out of the fight, and it's believed the UFC is searching for a replacement and a new opponent for Tokkos. Tafa will aim to return to the octagon in the near future as he'll aim to build off this win over Sean Sharaf on Oct. 12, 2024.

APRIL 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Marcos Rogerio de Lima never balked at late change to Junior Tafa at UFC 298 Marcos Rogerio de Lima fought Junior Tafa on 24 hours’ notice after Tafa’s brother Justin pulled out on weigh-ins day.

FEBRUARY 19, 2024 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Junior Tafa steps into UFC 298 matchup on one day's notice after brother injured In an all-time rarity, Junior Tafa has stepped into UFC 298 on one day’s notice to replace his brother.

FEBRUARY 16, 2024 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

UFC Fight Night 225 video: Junior Tafa faceplants Parker Porter with one-punch KO Junior Tafa showed off his striking en route to a quick finish of Parker Porter at UFC Fight Night 225.

AUGUST 26, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

UFC Fight Night 222 adds heavyweight bout Junior Tafa vs. Mohammed Usman Younger siblings of UFC vets are set to clash at UFC Fight Night 222 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

MARCH 24, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM