Tag: Justin Tafa

UFC 312 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Dricus Du Plessis, Zhang Weili lead with champ money

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program has now paid out nearly $32 million to athletes since its deal began with Venum.

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 312 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $254,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 312 took place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2/Disney+ and ESPN+.

The full UFC 312 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: $42,000
[autotag]Tatiana Suarez[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Tallison Teixeira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Gabriel Santos[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Tom Nolan[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Wang Cong[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Aleksandre Topuria[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Colby Thicknesse[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rong Zhu[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kody Steele[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jonathan Micallef[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Jousset[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Quillan Salkilld[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anshul Jubli[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $871,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $31,889,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

UFC 312 results: Tallison Teixeira blitzes Justin Tafa to score 35-second debut TKO

Tallison Teixeira picked up a quick finish in his debut, needing just 35 seconds to record the first stoppage on of UFC 312 main card.

The lone heavyweight fight of the UFC 312 main card delivered a fast finish.

Making his UFC debut, undefeated [autotag]Tallison Teixeira[/autotag] stepped into the octagon to face fellow hard-hitter Justin Tafa. The fight was the third on the pay-per-view main card at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, and only lasted 35 seconds.

Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) quickly brought the fight to Tafa (7-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC). The 6-goot-7 Brazilian initiated a takedown attempt, pushing New Zealand’s Tafa into the fence. A couple of knees connected, and then a big right elbow sent Tafa crashing to the canvas. Teixeira added a few follow-up punches to prompt the referee to step in as Tafa turtled up on the ground.

Teixeira has yet to see Round 2 in his professional MMA career. He earned his way into the UFC after finishing Arthur Lopes in under two minutes at Dana White’s Contender Series in September. He proved his speed and power is still effective on the big stage, and likely earned a Performance of the Night bonus in his debut.

Tafa has dropped two straight. He entered this contest after a unanimous decision loss to Karl Williams last March, which came after a first round finish of Austen Lane at UFC 293.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 312 results include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira prediction, pick, start time for UFC 312

Tallison Teixeira debuts in a big main card spot at UFC 312. Does he have the tools to stop Justin Tafa in his heavyweight clash?

[autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] and [autotag]Tallison Teixeira[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC 312 main card at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 2-3
UFC main cards, 2024: 8-8

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira UFC 312 preview

Tafa (7-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) will look to return to the win column following a unanimous decision loss to Karl Williams last March. Prior to that defeat, Tafa ripped through stoppages of Harry Hunsucker, Parker Porter and Austin Lane. … Teixeira (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) debuts in a big spot on a pay-per-view main card. The undefeated 25-year-old heavyweight stopped Arthur Lopes in his September Dana White’s Contender Series appearance to earn a UFC contract.

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira UFC 312 expert pick, prediction

Despite having fights like Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos stuck on the prelims, the UFC matchmakers can’t help themselves when it comes to force-feeding us low-level heavyweights on main cards, but I digress.

In the fighters’ defense, both Tafa and Teixeira are at least action-oriented heavyweights – so hopefully we can avoid any slop fests.

Teixeira is one of the few Stefan Struve-esque heavyweights who will actually fight long, but the Brazilian’s defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Aside from Teixeira’s head being naturally strung up like a tetherball due to his height, the 25-year-old prospect has a tendency to rush follow fleeing foes and rush off of his successes.

For that reason, I’ll pick Tafa to score the knockout with a counter right hook in Round 1.

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira UFC 312 odds

The oddsmaker and the public are slightly favoring the Brazilian fighter, listing Teixeira -142 and Tafa +116 via FanDuel.

Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira UFC 312 start time, how to watch

Tafa and Teixeira are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 11:20 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.

UFC 312: Tafa vs. Teixeira odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 312 odds between Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 3-round heavyweight bout on the main card, Justin Tafa and Tallison Teixiera meet at UFC 312 Saturday at Qudos Banks Arena in Sydney, Australia. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 312: Tafa vs. Teixeira odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET (Disney+/ESPN+), with the prelims starting at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / Disney+ / ESPN+). The main card is on pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET.

Records: Tafa (7-4-0) | Teixeira (7-0-0)

The Aussie Tafa will have an entire nation supporting him in this main card bout, but that might not be enough.

He is looking to bounce back from a unanimous-decision loss to Karl Williams last time out in a fight night in March 2024. He is just 3-3-1 in his past 7 bouts. Tafa’s last win was a Round 1 KO/TKO against Austen Lane at UFC 293.

Teixeira is making his UFC debut after a Round 1 KO/TKO vs. Arthur Lopes in Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 6 in Sept. 2024. In the early portion of his MMA career, he has 6 straight KO/TKO wins, all in Round 1. He is a punching machine, but facing a veteran like Tafa is a big step up.

Teixeira has a 9-inch reach advantage over the veteran Tafa, and he is 6 years younger than the southpaw.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 312: Tafa vs. Teixeira odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:35 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Teixeira -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Tafa +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over +150 | Under -200)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +450 | No -800)

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UFC 312: Tafa vs. Teixeira picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

TEIXEIRA (-150) is looking to burst onto the scene in his company debut. While it won’t be easy against the Aussie veteran Tafa (+125) behind enemy lines, Teixeira is an impressive specimen.

What’s most impressive about the Brazilian debutante is his 9-inch reach advantage. You just don’t see that much of a disparity. He’ll literally be able to keep Tafa at arm’s length, pushing and pulling the Aussie in and out at his discretion. That will allow him to pick and choose his spots for the big blow.

TEIXEIRA BY KO/TKO OR DQ (-110) is worth a look in the method of victory section on the 7-way line.

Over/Under (O/U)

Under 1.5 Rounds (-200) is a little on the expensive side, costing you 2 times your potential return.

No (-800): Will the fight go the distance? is an even worse play, costing 8 times your potential return. While going Under 1.5 Rounds may be OK to toss into a multi-leg parlay, the distance prop makes no sense anywhere.

AVOID.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

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UFC on ESPN 53 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Main event combines for $22,000

UFC on ESPN 53 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 53 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $148,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 53 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 53 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Karl Williams[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]AJ Dobson[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Billy Quarantillo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Fernando Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Luis Pajuelo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Trey Ogden[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Miles Johns[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jarno Errens[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Steven Nguyen[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dariya Zheleznyakova[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Montserrat Rendon[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,530; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $53,000 while title challengers get $53,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-53 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,669,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,406,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC Fight Night 240: Karl Williams vs. Justin Tafa odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 240 odds between Karl Williams vs. Justin Tafa, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 3-round heavyweight bout on the main card, Karl Williams and Justin Tafa meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 240 — also known as UFC on ESPN+ 98 and UFC Vegas 89 — at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC Fight Night 240: Williams vs. Tafa odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET, and can be viewed on ESPN+, while the main card starts at 10 p.m. ET, also on ESPN/ESPN+.

Records: Williams (9-1-0) | Tafa (7-3-0)

Williams heads into this bout with 3 unanimous-decision wins in 3 fights since joining the UFC. He has 6 consecutive pro victories dating back to B2 Fighting Series 142: Kentucky in a championship bout against Jason Butcher Dec. 4, 2021. He lost via triangle choke/submission in that lone setback in 10 career bouts. He posted a UD win over veteran Chase Sherman last time out in mid-May.

Tafa is coming off a KO/TKO win in 82 seconds against Austen Lane at UFC 293, and he had 3 straight wins via KO/TKO, all in Round 1. He has picked up 4 wins in 7 bouts at the UFC level with one no contest.

Williams holds a 5-inch reach advantage against Tafa, so he’ll be able to pull the fighter in and out at his discretion. The southpaw Tafa has a 5.13-to-2.93 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, so it would behoove Williams to keep Tafa at a distance. Each fighter is nearly identical in accuracy, with Williams at 59.67% significant strike accuracy percentage, and Tafa at 59.09%.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 240: Williams vs. Tafa odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Williams -185 (bet $185 to win $100) | Tafa +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -175 | Under +135)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +130 | No -175)

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UFC Fight Night 240: Williams vs. Tafa picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Williams (-185) is just a little too pricey straight up on the 2-way line, although it wouldn’t be unacceptable to toss him into a multi-fighter, or multi-leg, parlay of some sort.

You just can’t risk nearly 2 times your potential return on a single bet, especially against a veteran like Tafa (+150).

Get a little more specific instead. WILLIAMS BY DECISION/TECHNICAL DECISION (+150) is a much better play. He’ll be able to push and pull Tafa out due to his immense reach advantage, and Williams has won all 3 of his fights via decision at the UFC level. He has been in no hurry to get finishes.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (-175) is a little on the pricey side, but it isn’t bad if you like to play it safe.

YES (+130): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is a decent bet if you don’t want to necessarily declare a winner, but want a little action on this fight. Williams is methodical, and he hasn’t secured an early finish in 3 fights at the UFC level.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

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Justin Tafa on another fight swap with brother Junior: ‘Just like old times back at the playground’

These Tafa Brothers are starting to make a habit of being interchangeable.

LAS VEGAS – These Tafa Brothers are starting to make a habit of being interchangeable.

In February, [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] was set to take on Marcos Rogerio de Lima, but had to pull out in the middle of fight week with an injury. Fortunately, his brother Junior was on hand and stepped in to save the fight.

This time around, it’s Junior that had to withdraw from a fight against Karl Williams (9-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 53 (ESPN/ESPN+) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and Justin Tafa (7-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is stepping in to repay the favor.

“It’s just like old times back at the playground,” Justin Tafa said at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 53 media day. “Sometimes I’m not ready to fight, so my brother goes and steps in and fights for me. … We were really confident that my brother could have put de Lima away. I’ve seen my brother knock out top-10 heavyweight boxers – and after going out on a bender. He can knock anyone out on any given night.

“We weren’t planning on him not taking this fight. When we went back to Australia, we saw the severity of his injury and I told him I’ll go and check myself and if they say I’m ready, I could be ready by fight night. I’ll take the fight and do a solid for him.”

Junior Tafa was put away by de Lima after a bevy of leg kicks, so Justin no doubt will be hoping for a better experience against Williams in Saturday’s co-main event.

Check out Tafa’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 26-March 3)

Check out the UFC, PFL and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Feb. 26-March 3.

Injury knocks Justin Tafa out of UFC 298 fight with Marcos Rogerio de Lima on weigh-in day

The preliminary card for the UFC’s return to Southern California took a hit on weigh-in day.

IRVINE, Calif. – The preliminary card for the UFC’s return to Southern California took a hit on weigh-in day.

The only heavyweight fight on the card at UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., is off after [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) suffered an injury at some point before his trip to the scale for a fight against [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag] (21-9-1 MMA, 10-7 UFC).

Details of the injury weren’t disclosed, but a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the fight’s removal to MMA Junkie. UFC officials made a formal announcement during the official weigh-ins for UFC 298.

The 30-year-old Tafa, from New Zealand, has won three straight fights by first-round knockout. But in late 2021, ahead of a head-kick KO win over Harry Hunsucker, he missed his mark on the scale and got saddled with the dubious distinction of being the first UFC heavyweight to miss weight.

Rogerio de Lima, 38, was looking to get back in the win column after a 33-second knockout loss to Derrick Lewis in July 2029 snapped a two-fight winning streak.

With the change, the UFC 298 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria – for featherweight title
  • Paulo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal
  • Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
  • Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Lemos
  • Rinya Nakamura vs. Carlos Vera
  • Zhang Mingyang vs. Brendson Ribeiro
  • Danny Barlow vs. Josh Quinlan

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Oban Elliott vs. Val Woodburn
  • Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Justin Tafa struck Austen Lane with follow-up shots to ensure he wasn’t ‘robbed’ of UFC 293 bonus

Justin Tafa gave up a walk-off knockout at UFC 293 just so he wouldn’t risk losing out on some money.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] gave up a walk-off knockout just so he wouldn’t risk losing out on a bonus.

After their first fight ended in a no contest just 29 seconds in at UFC on ESPN 5 in June, Tafa (7-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) knocked out Austen Lane in the first round this past Saturday at UFC 293.

Tafa dropped Lane (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with an overhand left but wasn’t about to pay homage to his idol, Mark Hunt, as he usually does by walking off. Instead, he decided to follow Lane to the mat and land big ground-and-pound to get a more emphatic finish.

“When I seen him falling, I was going to walk off then I saw Mick Maynard in the corner of my eye, and I was like, ‘Not this time, bro,'” Tafa told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a post-fight news conference. “I’m not going to get robbed of another 50K bonus. So, went in, had to put that ground-and-pound for the crowd to roar and definitely get that Performance of the Night.”

Tafa’s strategy worked as he was one of two fighters to earn the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. It took him four octagon knockouts to earn his first bonus and is content to continue fighting at home even if it means he has to wait a little.

“I would like another one in later this year, but I’ve heard some talk that the UFC is coming back to Australia early next year,” Tafa said. “So, I wouldn’t mind just upscaling some more and just really rounding up my game and making my case for that top 15. Easy.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.