UFC Fight Night: Iwo Baraniewski vs Junior Tafa Preview & Prediction
KO artist, Iwo Baranieswki, looks for his third first round finish in a row, taking on the heavy handed Justin Tafa at 205 pounds.
Iwo Baraniewski vs Junior Tafa facts
What time are Iwo Baraniewski and Junior Tafa expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 278
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim main card
Belal Muhammad vs Gabriel Bonfim (Welterweight)
Brendan Allen vs Edmen Shahbazyan (Middleweight)
Fares Ziam vs Tom Nolan (Lightweight)
Bryce Mitchell vs Santiago Luna (Bantamweight)
Iwo Baraniewski vs Junior Tafa (Light Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim prelims
Matt Schnell vs Alessandro Costa (Catchweight - 130 lb)
Marcus McGhee vs John Yannis (Bantamweight)
Bruno Gustavo da Silva vs Edgar Chairez (Flyweight)
Priscila Cachoeira vs Chelsea Chandler (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jordan Leavitt vs Joanderson Brito (Featherweight)
Jeisla Chaves vs Yuneisy Duben (Women’s Flyweight)
Ketlen Souza vs Ariane Carnelossi (Women’s Strawweight)
Iwo Baraniewski: Can the Polish sensation score another brutal stoppage and performance bonus?
Punching his ticket to the UFC with a 20 second KO on the Contender Series, Iwo Baraniewski (8-0) produced a FOTY contender in his UFC debut against Ibo Aslan at UFC 323. Despite the fight lasting just over 90 seconds, both fighters traded multiple knockdowns en route to a KO victory for the Pole, earning him a POTN bonus and instant fan favorite status. The undefeated 27 year old prospect’s maniacal debut secured him the feature bout spot on the latest UFC London card, where he flatlined Austen Lane in just 28 seconds to earn his second KO victory and POTN bonus in two fights, keeping his 100% finishing rate intact in the process.
Junior Tafa: "The Juggernaut" looks to string two wins together for the first time in his UFC career
Stepping in for Billy Elekana on short notice, Junior Tafa (7-5) fights for the second time in just over a month after demolishing Kevin Christian on the UFC Perth card in his most recent appearance. Posting a 3-5 record since joining the promotion in 2023, the younger Tafa brother is a battle hardened kickboxer boasting devastating KO power, with extensive experience under the Glory banner. However, his shortcomings in MMA are well known at this point; Tafa is an extremely poor grappler, coughing up more than half of his professional defeats by way of submission. He’s always dangerous in the early goings, but once fighters get him to the floor, he’s rarely managed to get back up.
Iwo Baraniewski vs Junior Tafa prediction
Could there be an upset brewing here?
Baraniewski has looked excellent in his two UFC bouts to date, but it’s hard to put a great deal of stock in victories over Ibo Aslan and Austen Lane, the latter of whom was KO’d four times in five UFC defeats. Tafa has only ever been TKO’d in his career once, a defeat at heavyweight where he succumbed to leg kicks and punches from a much larger fighter in Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
However, Baraniewski is allegedly a double threat. While he hasn’t had to call on his grappling chops throughout his UFC tenure to date, the Pole is a decorated judoka in addition to his reputation as a KO artist. That’s extremely bad news for Tafa, a fighter with dismal grappling who has been tapped out by virtually everybody he’s ever faced should the action hit the mat.
As such, this one is likely to look like most of Tafa’s fights. I would not be surprised in the slightest if he hurts Baraniewski badly on the feet as they exchange in the early stages; if Ibo Aslan can do it, “The Juggernaught” is more than capable. However, if he’s unable to get the finish outright, I think the Pole wrestles the action to the floor and finds a finish from there.
Prediction: Iwo Baraniewski to win by stoppage
