UFC"Bad Man"Justin Tafa Record: 7-5-0
HeavyweightRecord7-5-0
Age32
DivisionHeavyweight · #76
Combat Edge Elo1608
Next fightSep 27 2025
Justin Tafa has a 7-5-0 professional record and is 32 years old in the Heavyweight division, representing NTG Fight & Fitness. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Justin Tafa bio
Personal background
Justin Tafa, nicknamed "Bad Man," is an Australian heavyweight competing in the UFC with a professional record of 7-5. Born on December 13, 1993, in West Auckland, New Zealand, Tafa is of Samoan descent and was raised in the suburb of Avondale by a single mother alongside his siblings. His maternal grandfather was a national boxing champion, and Tafa grew up playing rugby league before channeling his power into combat sports and eventually relocating to Brisbane, where he fights out of NTG Fight & Fitness. His younger brother, Junior Tafa, is a former Glory kickboxer who also fights in the UFC, making the Tafa name a familiar one in the heavyweight ranks. At 6'0" with a 74-inch reach, Justin is a compact, heavy-handed knockout artist who hits as hard as anyone in the division.
Path to the UFC
Tafa turned professional in 2017 and ran off three straight knockouts on the Australian regional scene with the XFC promotion, every win coming inside the distance by strikes. That kind of finishing power earned him a UFC call-up, and he debuted in October 2019 at UFC 243 in Melbourne – only to run straight into a first-round knockout loss to Yorgan De Castro, a harsh introduction to the elite level.
UFC run
Tafa rebounded in February 2020 by stopping Juan Adams with first-round punches, then hit a rough patch with consecutive decision losses to Carlos Felipe and Jared Vanderaa in 2021 – results that exposed how his fights tend to swing on whether he can land early. He answered emphatically in December 2021 with a spectacular first-round head-kick knockout of Harry Hunsucker, then knocked out Parker Porter with punches in the first round at UFC 284 in February 2023. His first meeting with Austen Lane in June 2023 ended in a no-contest after an accidental eye poke, but Tafa settled the score that September at UFC 293, knocking Lane out in the first round. The momentum stalled again with a 2024 decision loss to Karl Williams and a first-round TKO defeat to Tallison Teixeira in February 2025, underscoring the high-variance nature of his game.
Fighting style
Tafa is one of the purest knockout artists in the UFC heavyweight division. Every single one of his seven professional wins has come by knockout or TKO – a 100% finish rate – and his power is genuine, as the highlight-reel head-kick knockout of Harry Hunsucker proved. He is a front-foot pressure fighter who looks to end matters early, but the record tells an honest story: when his power does not land in the opening rounds, he has been outpointed, with all three of his decision losses going the full distance. His path to victory runs through his fists, and the longer a fight lasts, the harder it becomes for him.
Career highlights
- Head-kick knockout of Harry Hunsucker — ended their 2021 bout with a first-round head kick, one of the most memorable finishes of his career.
- Perfect finishing record — all seven of his professional wins have come by knockout or TKO, a 100% finish rate.
- Redemption over Austen Lane — after a no-contest, knocked out Lane in the first round at UFC 293 to settle the score.
Career snapshot
Justin Tafa career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1608Solid ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#1260
Heavyweight#76of 105 active
Peak1640
Last move-17
Opponent quality1605avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1640 Elo after defeating Austen Lane (2023-09-10)
Similar Elo in Heavyweight
Justin Tafa quick answers
What is Justin Tafa's record?
Justin Tafa's professional MMA record is 7-5-0.
How old is Justin Tafa?
Justin Tafa is 32 years old.
What weight class is Justin Tafa?
Justin Tafa fights at Heavyweight in UFC.
How tall is Justin Tafa?
Justin Tafa is 6'0" tall with a 74" reach.
How much does Justin Tafa weigh?
Justin Tafa competes at Heavyweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 265 lbs.
What is Justin Tafa's Combat Edge Elo?
Justin Tafa's Combat Edge Elo is 1608, with a peak Elo of 1640.
How strong is Justin Tafa's recent opposition?
Justin Tafa's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1605 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Justin Tafa's last fight?
Justin Tafa's latest tracked pro fight was against Jhonata Diniz at UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira on Jun 28 2025.
What is Justin Tafa's recent form?
Justin Tafa's recent tracked pro form is L-L-W-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Justin Tafa usually win?
Justin Tafa's 7 recorded wins include 7 knockouts, 0 submissions, and 0 decisions, with 100% ending before the final bell.
7Wins by knockout
0Wins by submission
0Wins by decision
2Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
3Loss by decision
Justin Tafa stats
Record : 7 / 5 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
4.05Fighter2.81Division average
Significant striking accuracy
54%Fighter47%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
5.11Fighter4.44Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
47%Fighter48%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0Fighter1.38Division average
Takedown accuracy
0%Fighter37%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
53%Fighter48%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0Fighter0.60Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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