Australian based Justin Tafa lost for the second time in three UFC appearances earlier this morning (AEDT), with the heavyweight edged by Brazilian Carlos Felipe.
Samoan Tafa started the bout patient and landed the better shots from the outside in the opening round. He peppered Felipe’s leg with kicks and mixed it up to the body and upstairs to take the first round on all judges cards.
The second round went the way of the Brazilian as he hurt Tafa with either what looked like a body shot or battered left eye. Tafa covered up against the cage as Felipe tried to capitalise and was able to see out the round.
HUGE POWER INCOMING 😤
🇦🇺🇳🇿🇼🇸 @Justin_Tafa is making the walk! #UFCFightIsland7 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/di9SAlgX6T
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) January 16, 2021
Everything was up for grabs coming into the last round and both fighters knew it. Tafa mixed it up and landed a short takedown before they clinched against the cage. Tafa looked up at the clock and noted 30-seconds to. He clinched down on his mouthpiece and unloaded. Felipe returned fire as they exchanged shots until the final bell.
Two judges scored the last round the way of Felipe to give him the somewhat controversial split decision victory.
That round was WIIIIIIIIILD! 🧨
Who you got so far?! #UFCFightIsland7 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/dpkq3VScxz
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) January 16, 2021
Tafa out-landed Felipe 47-20 according to UFC statistics with 16 judges on MMADecisions.com also scoring it to Tafa, compared to four that scored it to Felipe.
The bout was also in contention to win the fight of the night honours and a US$50k bonus however the headline act between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar stole that honour.
The bout took place at Etihad Arena on UFC Island in Abu Dhabi.
Results:
- Max Holloway def. Calvin Kattar via Decision (Unanimous)
- Carlon Condit def. Matt Brown via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jingliang Li def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 4:25
- Alessio Di Chirico def. Joaquin Buckley via KO (Head-Kick), Rd 1, 2:12
- Punahele Soriano def. Dusko Todorovic via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:48
- Joselyne Edwards Laboriel def. Yanan Wu via Decision (Unanimous)
- Carlos Felipe def. Justin Tafa via Decision (Split)
- Ramazan Emeev def. David Zawada via Decision (Split)
- Vanessa Melo def. Sarah Moras via Decision (Unanimous)
- Austin Lingo def. Jacob Kilburn via Decision (Unanimous)
