UFC 312: Justin Tafa about UFC -Embeding Period; Start times how to look at nz

TAFA joined the UFC in 2019 as a relative newcomer to mixed martial arts, with a 3-0 record and all his victories of knockout. He debuted at UFC 243 in Melbourne – a card that set the UFC participation record with 57,127 fans in the stand at Marvel Stadium.

He was knocked out in the first round after he was beaten to the punch in a heavy exchange.

He jumped back in his following competition-da he was on the right side of a first round of stops he dropped his next two by decision.

But Tafa had established himself as a fan-friendly fighter, willing to stand 10 toes down and trade with bombs with anyone facing him. He remained on the UFC’s books and on 3-1 in his last four ended matches another ending in a non-competition because of an eye-poke he out to restore himself as a heavy weight on the climb.

“I’m where I should be. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, ”Tafa said.

“Before, it was like ‘man I should have cracked the rankings’, but I came in with three games – which, four rounds under my belt, fought guys all over the world on the motherboard, they put me in the deep end quite quickly.

“I feel like I’m still up and I’ll show you on Sunday.”

Against Teixeira, TAFA – 1.83 m high with a 1.88 m range – will have to navigate a significant size disadvantage, with the Brazilian standing of 2.01 m with a 6.11 m range.

Brazilian’s heavy hands make the task of getting into striking range, all the more dangerous, with six of his seven wins coming from knockout and the other upon submission.

However, a battle is full of exchanges just what Tafa hopes to pull her rival into.

“If (they are) tall, it will always be a tough task, but it is nothing I have not seen before. The height is only good if you can use it and the height is only good if you can keep someone away, ”Tafa said.

“I’ve wanted a bloody war for a while. That’s what my heart wants; Test this man’s soul and see if he wants to go into depth that I want to go – but if a knockout comes comes a knockout. “

TAFA will be one of three Kiwi connections on the Sydney card with French welter weight Kevin Jousset and the Chinese light Rong Zhu who train in Aucklands City Kickboxing, making their return to Octagon on the early prelims.

How to see UFC 312 in New Zealand

The early prelims (with Kevin Jousset and Rong Zhu) get started from 1 p.m. 12.30, live on UFC’s Stream Platform – UFC Fight Pass.

Prelims begin at 1 p.m. 14 and will be on UFC Fight Pass, Sky Open, ESPN 2 and SKY SPORT NOW

The motherboard (with Justin Tafa) starts at 1 p.m. 16 and can be purchased for $ 44.95 at Sky Arena, Sky Sport Now and UFC Fight Pass.

What else is on the card?

UFC 312 will be overwritten by two title matches.

In the main event, the Dricus du Plessis puts his middleweight belt on the line against the man he took it from, Sean Strickland. Their first meeting was a shared decision gain for Du Plessis in January last year, with the South African achieved his first successful defense in August against Israel Adesanya.

Before that, Strawweight Master Weili Zhang will seem to defend her title for the third time and demand her fifth consecutive win when she meets the undefeated challenger Tatiana Suarez.

The card is full of Australian talent, most of which are relative newcomers in the promotion – although there are veterans in the form of Jake Matthews and Jimmy Crute. Outside the title matches, only one match does not include an Australian or New Zealand link.

Loss Odds

DRICUS YOU PLESSIS $ 1.42 SEAN Strickland $ 2.85

Weili Zhang $ 2.05 Tatiana Suarez $ 1.78

Justin Tafa $ 2.25 Tallison Teixeira $ 1.65

Rong Zhu $ 3.40 Kody Steele $ 1.32

Kevin Jousset $ 1.40 Jonathan Micallef $ 3

Odds can be changed.

Christopher Reive Joined the Herald Sports team in 2017 and brought the same versatility to his coverage as he does with his sports visual habits.