Junior Tafa

BIOGRAPHY

Junior Tafa is an up-and-coming mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is currently competing in the heavyweight division. Born on October 16, 1986, in Apia, Samoa, Junior began his MMA career with a 3–0 amateur record while still living there before moving to New Zealand to pursue his dream of becoming a professional fighter. His professional debut occurred at Destiny MMA: Xtreme Knockout 2 in 2014 and since that time he has compiled an impressive 11–2 record, fighting out of Auckland’s City Kickboxing Gym.

Tafa has had multiple successful stints in various promotions including Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) and Brace for War where he went 5–0 as a pro fighter between 2016 and 2017 winning two titles along the way — Brace for War Heavyweight Champion and PXC Heavyweight Champion. During that same period Tafa also competed twice under the Rise Promotion banner where he defeated both opponents via submission inside two rounds each fight.

In 2018 Tafa made history by becoming the first Samoan native ever to be signed by UFC; however it didn’t quite go according to plan for him after dropping back-to-back fights against Yorgan De Castro and Juan Adams respectively within his promotional debut year despite giving great efforts each time out resulting in losses via unanimous decision on both occasions. In 2019 Tafa rebounded from this setback with consecutive victories over Raphael Pessoa Nunes at UFC Fight Night 157 – Andrade vs Zhang as well as Ben Sosoli at UFC 243 – Whittaker vs Adesanya respectively which saw him win Fight of The Night honors consecutively after putting on thrilling performances which brought him much notoriety amongst hardcore fans alike despite losing out on victory bonuses due to split decisions going against him both times out thus far into his octagon tenure history books.

The 2020s have been kinder to Junior so far as he earned a performance based post fight bonus after finishing Justin TUFaalii Johnson via knockout inside one round during their bout at UFC Fight Night 174 – Lewis vs Oleinik which was held back August 8th last year whilst most recently Itchiguk knocked off Serghei Spivac via second round ko earlier this month marking arguably being able to call himself welterweight killer following having stopped each opponent so far during his run inside octagon thus far within just two rounds apiece—both occurring less than minute mark too boot—making it hard not showing props towards inspiring work ethic displayed throughout young Samoan’s stellar mma career journeyed thusfar already evidenced before even reaching any peak potential stage still left yet ahead remaining until future shall tell what heights this aspiring contender may reach once all said done entire career progression concluded next door coming sometime later down further road traveled through till then ends ends…