Fox Sports Australia’s Nick Walshaw brings you all the latest news and views in Aussie and global MMA in his weekly column, The Takedown.
Junior Tafa, for a time, slept on the floor of a western Sydney gym.
His bed, an old mattress the fighter laid out each evening between a row of exercise bikes.
“Which for me, is a great memory,” Tafa recounts now of his living arrangements from just two years ago.
Or counted another way, around eight fights back.
“And eight finishes,” he grins.
The younger brother of UFC heavyweight Justin ‘Bad Man’ Tafa, 26-year-old Junior is now finally readying for his own Octagon debut in Las Vegas on April 23.
Watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday April 9 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
Edwards defends title in style v Usman | 00:50
As revealed last week, the rising Queensland heavyweight has been booked into an exciting showdown with Mohammed Usman, who is himself the younger brother of former UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman.
The bout also doubles as the first for the hyped Nigerian product since winning The Ultimate Fighter 30 in devastating fashion — a brutal KO win over Zac Pauga.
None of which worries Tafa however.
“Because I’ll bet $100 you can’t name one person he fought,” the Aussie says of his rival’s TUF30 win.
“Obviously, if you’re signed to the UFC you have to be dangerous.
“You’ve got to have something.
“And Usman, he is good.
“But when it comes to combat, I have him covered, man.
“I signed to Glory when I was 20 years old, fighting Dutch monsters, Moroccan giants.
“So he can have his TUF win, I’ve got more experience.
“This is my time … and I’ll be looking to take his head.”
Undoubtedly, Tafa comes into his debut with plenty of confidence – with the young Brisbane product having finished his past eight opponents across kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai and professional boxing.
Tafa also credits his current win streak, in part, to time spent sleeping on that gym floor of good friend and combat legend, Mark Hunt during Covid lockdown.
Back in 2021, Tafa flew into Sydney to act as a sparring partner for fellow heavyweight Tai Tuivasa. Midway through camp however, the ongoing Covid drama saw NSW borders close and Tafa unable to get back home to Brisbane.
“But that’s still a great memory for me,” he says now of his time spent living and training inside an empty gym. ”It shows how dedicated I am to this.
“Shows that this is my calling.”
Tafa also explained why his initial Octagon debut, set for last month’s UFC 284 card in Perth, and against American Austen Lane, never went ahead as planned.
“A day after the fight was announced, Austen pulled out,” the fighter explains. “I’m not sure why. Injured maybe.
“Anyway, the UFC were then trying to get me matched with somebody else when I injured my hand. It was during a heavy sparring session with my younger brother.
“I hit him with a good left hook and snapped one of the bones in my hand. Had to get surgery.
“But I’m back to 100 per cent now and hitting as hard as ever.”
Quizzed on his long journey to the UFC, Tafa continued: “People don’t see what goes on behind the curtain.
“The sacrifices, the struggles.
“And all for that dream of competing alongside my brother in the UFC.
“And my brother Justin, he’s already known as a bad man.
“But he also has a bad brother.
“And I’m ready to show that I’m as legit as they come.
“I’ve finished the last eight guys I’ve fought. And it’s going to be no different when I hit the world stage.”
Late stop to fight after EXPLOSIVE KO | 00:49
BAM BAM BACK IN TRAINING
AUSTRALIAN heavyweight Tai Tuivasa is back in training and potentially eyeing off an Octagon return ahead of what was initially slated to be an August comeback.
While he has no fight booked, Tuivasa has returned to the gym after taking an extended break following back-to-back losses against Ciryl Gane and Sergei Pavlovich.
Despite initially planning to take the first seven months of this year off, UFC officials would love to get the Mt Druitt favourite back in front of crowds ASAP.
However, Tuivasa is understandably keen to take his time after accepting consecutive fights against two of the division’s top three contenders.
Tuivasa now sits sixth in the UFC rankings.
Watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday April 9 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
VOLK AIDING ADESANYA’S ‘LAST SHOT’
ALEXANDER Volkanovski has been bunkered down in New Zealand this past week helping great mate Israel Adesanya prepare to win back his UFC middleweight crown.
Adesanya is looking to win back his gold strap against Brazilian Alex Pereira at UFC 287 on April 9 (AEST).
While Volkanovski cannot head Stateside for the fight, the UFC featherweight champ has instead jetted across the ditch to help with the final preparations inside camp at City Kickboxing.
Speaking on his Youtube Channel this week, Adesanya described the bout against Pereira, who has now beaten him three times – including twice in kickboxing — as “my last shot”
“I’m hunting, and I mean that in every sense of the word,” Adesanya said.
“The mindset is different, definitely.
“I like it because it puts it all on me.
“It’s kind of poetic in a way.
“One life: Roll the dice.
“This is my last shot, and I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
AUSSIE’S IZZY PREDICTION
AUSTRALIA’S Rob Wilkinson is tipping Israel Adesanya to reclaim his middleweight crown at UFC 287 – but does not expect the superstar to make a move up in weight anytime soon.
Now the reigning PFL light heavyweight champ, Wilkinson was – in another lifetime – the man who welcomed Adesanya to the UFC way back in 2018.
While the Kiwi lost his gold strap to Brazilian Alex Pereira last start, Wilkinson is now tipping him to earn redemption in their hyped rematch. But as for how The Last Stylebender gets it done?
“I’m not sure if Israel will put him away,” Wilkinson said. “He did hurt Pereira in that first fight — rocked him pretty badly at the end of the first round.
“So he could get the finish.
“But I think he likely goes out there and puts on a dominant performance and gets the nod from judges.”
But as for a move to light heavyweight?
“I don’t think so, no,” Wilkinson continued. “Obviously Izzy did go up and challenge for the title once (losing to Jan Blachowicz).
“But I think he’s comfortable at middleweight. His size, his reach and length, it’s all such an advantage.
“And that’s what he uses so well. So I don’t believe he will try and go up.”
