Tag: Justin Tafa

Justin Tafa says eye injury forced him to limit sparring for Austen Lane rematch at UFC 293

Justin Tafa had to make some adjustments in his training camp ahead of his Austen Lane rematch.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] had to make some adjustments in his training camp ahead of his [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag] rematch.

Tafa (6-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) will run things back with Lane (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a heavyweight bout Saturday, after their first fight at UFC on ABC 5 in June ended in a no contest just 29 seconds into the fight.

Lane accidentally poked Tafa in the eye, which caused him serious damage, and rendered him unable to continue. Although the fight didn’t even last 30 seconds, Tafa is confident that he was en route to having his way before the fight-ending sequence. The 29-year-old admits he wasn’t concerned about a rematch at first, but after Lane’s coach started talking, he’s now motivated to end their story.

Tafa talked about that and more at Wednesday’s UFC 293 media day in Sydney.

Check out the full interview in the video above. UFC 293 takes place Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

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

Video: ‘UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland’ media day interviews

Before UFC 293 on Saturday, the main card and prelim fighters are scheduled to speak to reporters at media day.

SYDNEY – The UFC 293, which takes place at Qudos Bank Arena with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNNews/ESPN+ and early prelims on ESPN+, goes down Saturday.

Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the main card and preliminary are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day,.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions, check below for the archived videos of each media day (Story will update throughout the session).

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

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 10-16)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements 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 or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by a promotion from July 10-16.

UFC on ABC 5 medical suspensions: Josh Emmett out indefinitely from damage sustained

Josh Emmett and Justin Tafa suffered graphic injuries at UFC on ABC 5 and are among those suspended indefinitely by the Florida commission.

UFC on ABC 5 took place Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. and featured 13 fights.

There were back-and-forth battles, knockouts, an eye gouge, and a submission. Through these fights, the athletes involved sustained injuries that will put them on the shelf for some time, unless cleared by a doctor.

Tuesday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of athlete medical suspensions from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the sanctioning body that oversaw the event. The DBPR does not disclose injury specifics, but does show the durations of the suspension.

Atop the card, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] proved he’s a premiere contender when he dominated [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag] en route to a unanimous decision, including a rare 10-7 scorecard. The two headliners were suspended indefinitely by DBPR afterward.

Seven fighters total were handed indefinite suspensions, while two were handed terms of specific durations and the rest of the card was cleared on fight night. Fighters are permitted to return prior to the end of their assigned durations if they are cleared by a doctor.

Scroll below to see the suspensions for the full UFC on ABC 5 card.

Justin Tafa says he’s ‘cleared of any major damage’ from brutal eye poke at UFC on ABC 5

It appears Justin Tafa dodged a bullet after he was the victim of one of the most egregious eye pokes in UFC history.

It appears UFC heavyweight [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] dodged a bullet.

Tafa was the victim of a brutal eye poke this past Saturday at UFC on ABC 5 in Jacksonville, Fla., resulting in a no contest with Austen Lane just 29 seconds into the fight. Lane’s fingers inadvertently jammed into both of Tafa’s eyes for one of the most egregious eye pokes in UFC history.

When the foul happened, referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in and called timeout. Lane was warned, and Tafa was allotted five minutes to recover, but there was no way given the severity of the damage in the moment.

Roughly 48 hours later, Tafa provided an update on social media, and it appears he avoided a worst-case scenario.

“Cleared of any major damage to both eyes but both eyes did suffer some damage,” Tafa tweeted. “Right eye still in some pain, sensitive to light and blurred vision on the (left) but I thank God nothing that was going to end my career or cause serious damage to my eye.”

The accident caused a disappointing conclusion to the fight for both Lane (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Tafa (6-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC). Lane, a former NFL player for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was making his UFC debut in front of fans who used to cheer for him on the gridiron. Tafa, out of Australia, was seeking to extend his winning streak to three.

The good news for Tafa is that he will likely get that shot after not suffering permanent damage despite how awful the injury looked.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.

UFC on ABC 5 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Neil Magny’s $21,000 tops card

UFC on ABC 5 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ABC 5 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $174,000.

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 ABC 5 takes place Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ABC 5 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Josh Emmett[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]David Onama[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Gabriel Santos[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Phil Rowe[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zhalgas Zhumagulov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jose Mariscal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevor Peek[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jack Jenkins[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $6,000

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 $40,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-40 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $3,964,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $18,553,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.

UFC on ABC 5 video: Grotesque poke leads to bleeding eye, Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa no contest

The nastiest eye poke in UFC history may have taken place Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla.

A heavyweight bout at UFC on ABC 5 ended in unfortunate and gross fashion Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.

A fired-up crowd of fans, who audibly clamored to see former Jacksonville Jaguar defensive end [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag] make his UFC debut, were instead dished disappointment when their home city fighter inadvertently poked opponent [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] in the eyes 29 seconds into their main card bout.

The fingers of Lane (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) appeared to go in both eyes of Tafa (6-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC). However, Tafa’s right eye in particular suffered damage. When the foul happened, referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in and called timeout. Lane was warned and Tafa was allotted five minutes to recover.

For more than three minutes, a doctor and Miragliotta looked at Tafa, who repeatedly said he couldn’t see out of his right eye. Blood appeared in the eye area, though it was difficult to tell the direct source. The bottom eyelid appeared to swell shut and eventually Miragliotta waved off the bout.

Since the foul was deemed an accident, Miragliotta ruled the fight a no contest. According to UFC commentator Jon Anik, an argument between the two corners broke out during the commercial break prior to the official decision.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 5 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.

Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa no contest at UFC on ABC 5: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Austen Lane’s no contest from an accidental eye poke against Justin Tafa at UFC on ABC 5 in Jacksonville.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag]’s no contest from an accidental eye poke against [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] at UFC on ABC 5 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. (Photos by David Yeazell, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC on ABC 5: Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 5 odds and lines between Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa with MMA picks and predictions.

In a heavyweight bout on the main card, Austen Lane and Justin Tafa meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 5 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ABC 5: Lane vs. Tafa odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN/ESPN+ at 11:30 a.m. ET, with the main card on ABC/ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Lane makes his UFC debut. The 35-year-old has won his past 6 professional bouts, including a 1st-round knockout of Richard Jacobi in Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 6, Week 9 in mid-September 2022.

In 15 career fights for the Bulldog Boxing team representative, 14 have ended via KO/TKO with an 11-3 record in those bouts. His other fight ended with a submission victory by rear-naked choke over Brad Taylor at Combat Night Pro 20 in mid-March 2021.

Tafa, nicknamed “Bad Man,” is a 29-year-old Australian southpaw who has had a roller coaster ride since making his UFC debut in October 2019. He is 3-3, although he has won his past 2 bouts after a dismal start. Both of the wins are 1st-round victories via KO/TKO against Parker Porter and Harry Hunsucker since December 2021.

Tafa has 9 career pro bouts, with 6 wins and 1 loss by way of KO/TKO, with a pair of decision losses at the UFC level against Carlos Felipe and Jared Vanderaa.

Tafa has the edge in significant-strikes landed per minute at 5.09 to just 4.17 for Lane, and the Aussie is much more accurate, too. He has a 58.84% significant strikes landed per minute percentage, to just 48.33% for Lane. Neither fight appears terribly interested in going to the mat or submitting foes, so you can mostly avoid those props in this one.

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UFC on ABC 5: Lane vs. Tafa odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:18 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Lane +152 (bet $100 to win $152) | Tafa -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over +172 | Under -220)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +440 | No -700)

UFC on ABC 5: Lane vs. Tafa picks and predictions

Records: Lane (12-3-0) | Tafa (6-3-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

TAFA (-180) is right at my personal limit for a moneyline wager. However, it isn’t out of line to play Tafa up to -195 if you are tossing him into a multi-way parlay ticket.

The newcomer to UFC, Lane, will be in for a rude welcoming from the more experienced Tafa. He is a power puncher who has racked up the knockouts throughout his brief, but impressive career. The one concern about Tafa, and his potential for a knockout in this fight, is that he gives up 6 inches of reach to Lane.

However, a 20-plus-pound weight difference, 6 years of youth and more frequent and accurate-significant striking should make that reach difference a wash.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-700): Will the fight go the distance? is a foolish play, and cannot be included anywhere, even in a multi-part parlay.

I would roll the dice on OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (+172) for the plus-money opportunity. While the past 2 fights for both fighters at their respective levels have not made it out of the 1st round, I think we’ll see a more calculated Lane in his UFC debut.

He won’t be looking for, nor will he get, the opportunity for an early knockout, and I don’t think Tafa will be able to get the quick kill against an impressive prospect like Lane.

I’ll take the chance this one makes it a little deeper into the bout. At the same time, I like TAFA BY KO/TKO (-115) in the Method of Victory section.

TAFA TO WIN BY KO/TKO IN ROUNDS 2 OR 3 (+500) is also worth playing lightly for a chance to multiply your initial wager times 5.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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Justin Tafa plans to find out if debuting Austen Lane is ‘about that life’ at UFC on ABC 5

Justin Tafa is ready to spoil the octagon debut of former Jacksonville Jaguars draft pick Austen Lane at UFC on ABC 5.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag] has experienced hard fights at the highest level, and he intends to see if [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag] is prepared for that same test at UFC on ABC 5.

Tafa (6-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) is charged with welcoming former NFL player Lane (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon in Saturday’s featured heavyweight bout, which takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

It’s a big platform for Lane to be making his promotional debut, especially against Tafa, who said he’s quite comfortable going into his seventh UFC appearance. Tafa will be leaning on that experience, and said it’s going to be on Lane to prove he can hang.

“He’s got more fights than me, but I feel like I’m more well experienced against more quality fighters,” Tafa told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ABC 5 media day. “I’ve been in the deep end in some scraps, and I don’t know if he has. We’ll see on Saturday if he’s about that life.”

To hear more from Tafa, watch his complete UFC on ABC 5 media day interview above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.