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Justin Tafa Steps Away After Perth Cancellation as Reports Cite UFC Release

He cites six surgeries as the reason to pause competition for recovery.

Overview

  • Tafa announced on Instagram that he is taking time out of fighting to focus on his health and family, leaving a return open-ended.
  • His UFC Perth bout with Louie Sutherland was scrapped after he fell ill during a weight cut and did not reach the scale, with some outlets reporting a hospital visit.
  • MMA Fighting reported via an anonymous source that the UFC released Tafa following the Perth cancellation, a move not publicly confirmed by the promotion.
  • The 31-year-old joined the UFC in 2019, went 4-5 with one no contest, and earned all of his wins by knockout.
  • Tafa previously became the first UFC heavyweight to miss weight in 2021 at 267 pounds and has withdrawn from multiple scheduled fights in recent years.