UFC veteran Justin Tafa, with a decade of fights under his belt, has announced he`s stepping away from the sport. This decision follows his recent inability to make weight for UFC Perth, which led to the cancellation of his scheduled bout.
The September UFC Fight Night in Australia experienced significant disruptions, with the fight card shrinking from 15 to 12 bouts in the weeks preceding the event.
Among the late cancellations was a main card heavyweight clash featuring Justin Tafa and debutant Louie Sutherland. Sutherland reportedly stated that Tafa fell ill during his attempt to cut weight. This incident reignited calls from some fans for the UFC to release Tafa, given his previous difficulties with the scales.
While the UFC`s official stance on Tafa`s future is yet unknown, it`s clear that “Bad Man” will not be competing in the Octagon for the foreseeable future.
Justin Tafa Announces Indefinite Break from UFC
Throughout his 10-fight UFC career, Justin Tafa secured four victories, with all seven of his professional wins ending by knockout. Following his recent struggles, it`s possible these statistics will mark the end of his active fighting record.
Tafa shared his decision on Instagram, stating his intention to step away from fighting after the UFC Perth incident, hinting that his return might not happen. “Taking time out of this fight game,” Tafa posted. He elaborated on his reasons, citing the need for both physical and mental recovery after undergoing “six major surgeries in the last three years.” Tafa expressed a desire to “enjoy the other fruits of life for now and enjoy watching my kids grow,” while also thanking the UFC for “some good times in there.”
He concluded with a hopeful note: “God willing If I return to fight again I will be a lot healthier and able to show you my true potential. If not then God has something else planned in store for me. I appreciate all the support and love, you guys pushed me on when I thought I couldn’t. What a ride 🙏🏾❤️ #badmantafa.”
Tafa`s History of Weight Misses
Remarkably, Tafa`s struggle with weight at UFC Perth was not an isolated incident, despite him competing in the heavyweight division. He holds the distinction of being the first UFC heavyweight to miss weight, coming in at 267 pounds for his 2021 bout against Harry Hunsucker at UFC Vegas 45. Despite the miss, the Australian knockout artist still competed, securing a rapid head-kick finish.
A year after Tafa established this unfortunate record, Chris Barnett became the second heavyweight to miss weight, exceeding the limit by 1.5 pounds before his knockout victory over Jake Collier at UFC 279.
